LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A DOOR

Abstract

 The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, including a main body having a laundry inlet port disposed at a front surface thereof; a laundry accommodating portion provided inside the main body to accommodate laundry; and a door rotatably provided on a front surface of the main body to open and close the laundry inlet port, wherein the door includes an outer frame provided with an opening portion, and disposed toward an outer side of the main body; a front glass attached to a front surface of the outer frame to cover the opening portion; an inner frame coupled to a rear surface of the outer frame, and disposed toward an inner side of the main body; and a plurality of hooks extending from each of the outer frame and the inner frame to fasten the outer frame and the inner frame, thereby enhancing a fastening force between the outer frame and the inner frame.

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus having a hook fastening structure between an outer frame and an inner frame of a door.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] In general, a laundry treating apparatus may include an apparatus having a function of washing or drying laundry. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus may be configured to have both a washing function and a drying function of the laundry.

[0003] The laundry treating apparatus may include a main body having a laundry inlet port, a door configured to open and close the laundry inlet port, and a laundry accommodating portion provided in the main body.

[0004] The door may include a door frame, a front glass attached to a front surface of the door frame, and a door window mounted on the door frame to protrude through the laundry input port.

[0005] The door frame may include an outer frame disposed toward an outside of the main body, and an inner frame disposed toward an inside of the main body when the door is closed.

[0006] Each of the outer frame and the inner frame in the related art is fastened by a screw through a fastening hole.

[0007] In the outer frame and the inner frame in the related art, the weight of the front glass is large, and thus a fastening force between the outer frame and the inner frame must be increased to support the front glass.

[0008] The prior art Korean Patent No. 10-0595180 (granted on June 23, 2006; hereinafter, Patent Document 1) discloses a door of a laundry dryer/drum washing machine.

[0009] According to Patent Document 1, a plurality of hooks may be spaced apart from one another at upper and lower inner sides on an outer edge of the outer door frame, and a plurality of hook grooves are arranged to correspond to the plurality of hooks on an outer edge of the inner door frame. When assembling the door, the hooks of the outer door frame and the hook grooves of the inner door frame may be engaged with each other.

[0010] However, Patent Document 1 has a problem that moisture penetrates through a gap between the outer door frame and the inner door frame or heated air inside the main body is leaked even when a plurality of hooks and hook grooves are coupled to each other.

[0011] In order to solve this problem, a sealing member such as a sealant must be provided between the outer door frame and the inner door frame.

[0012] However, even in this case, the sealing member is cured as the use time elapses, and there is an inconvenience that needs to be replaced when a sealing function is not properly performed.

[0013] The prior art Korean Patent No. 10-1708352 (granted on February 14, 2017; hereinafter Patent Document 2) discloses a laundry treating apparatus.

[0014] According to Patent Document 2, coupling between the outer frame and the inner frame may be made by screw coupling, hook coupling, bonding coupling, or the like.

[0015] However, when the outer frame and the inner frame are coupled by screws, in order to increase a fastening force between the outer frame and the inner frame, the number of fastening holes and screws must be increased, which causes a problem that the cost is increased due to an increase of the number of working processes and the working time.

[0016] Furthermore, when the fastening holes between the outer frame and the inner frame do not coincide with each other, fastening is impossible, and thus there is a problem that rework is required due to the occurrence of defective parts or the material cost is wasted due to the disposal of the defective parts.

[0017] On the other hand, when the outer frame and the inner frame are coupled to each other by a hook structure, it may solve the problem caused by screw coupling, but such a simple hook coupling between the outer frame and the inner frame has a limitation in increasing the fastening force to support the weight of the front glass.

[0018] For example, since a hook coupling between the outer frame and the inner frame does not bear the weight of the front glass, a hook of the outer frame or a hook of the inner frame may be deformed in the direction of gravity to release the hook coupling.

[0019] As a result, the outer frame and the inner frame may be separated from each other to cause damage to the door, and a cracking phenomenon of the front glass may occur when the front glass is separated from the door frame.

[0020] In addition, when the outer frame and the inner frame are bonded to each other by an adhesive or the like, there is a problem that an assembly process between the outer frame and the inner frame and an adhesive application process are difficult.

[0021] For example, in order to apply an adhesive, the application process must be carried out while the outer frame and the inner frame are pre-assembled to each other, and thus there is a problem that hook or screw coupling for pre-assembly must be preceded, and an adhesive must be uniformly applied between the outer frame and the inner frame when the adhesive is applied.

[0022] In addition, even after an adhesive is applied, there may be a problem that the adhesive flows downward between the outer frame and the inner frame by gravity.

[0023] Moreover, there is a problem in that a time period for drying the adhesive after the adhesive is applied, and thus the production time period is extended.

SUMMARY

[0024] The present disclosure has been made to solve the foregoing problems in the related art, a first objective of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of preventing moisture infiltration and air leakage through a gap between an outer frame and an inner frame even without a sealing member such as a sealant when assembling the outer frame and the inner frame.

[0025] A second objective of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of fastening between the outer frame and the inner frame even without defining fastening holes for fastening screws in each of the outer frame and the inner frame when fastening screws, reducing the working time and cost according to an increase of the number of screws, preventing defective parts from being produced due to mismatched fastening holes between the outer frame and the inner frame, as well as preventing the waste of material costs due to rework and the disposal of the defective parts.

[0026] A third objective of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable solving a problem caused by bonding coupling between the outer frame and the inner frame.

[0027] A fourth objective of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of expanding a range occupied by an area of a front glass to the outer frame, and minimizing a size of the outer frame.

[0028] A fifth objective of the present disclosure is to prevent hooks from being deformed in the gravity direction due to a weight of the front glass when fastening the hooks, thereby firmly maintaining a high fastening force of the hooks.

[0029] One or more of the above objectives and/or any other objective(s) are achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claim(s). A laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a main body having a laundry inlet port disposed at a front surface thereof; a laundry accommodating portion provided inside the main body to accommodate laundry; and a door rotatably provided on a front surface of the main body to open and close the laundry inlet port. The door may include an outer frame provided with an opening portion, and disposed toward an outer side of the main body. A transparent front panel or plate, e.g. a front glass (hereinafter the transparent front panel or plate has also been referred to as the front glass, unless otherwise specified), may be attached to a front surface of the outer frame to cover the opening portion. The door may include an inner frame coupled to a rear surface of the outer frame, and disposed toward an inner side of the main body. A plurality of hooks extending from each of the outer frame and the inner frame to fasten the outer frame and the inner frame may be provided. The plurality of hooks may include a first hook protruding from an outer circumference of the outer frame toward the inner frame; and a second hook protruding from an outer circumference of the inner frame toward the outer frame, and parts of each of the first hook and the second hook are disposed to radially and/or circumferentially overlap with each other. The transparent front panel/plate may be formed of glass or any other substantially transparent material. The transparent front plate may comprise of a region that is transparent and may be surrounded by a non-transparent region. The non-transparent region may be completely or substantially impervious to light. The non-transparent region may be formed of the same material as the transparent region but may be rendered non-transparent by a surface modification such as coating, e.g. black coating, or etching, etc. The non-transparent region may be like a border frame surrounding the transparent region.

[0030] The first hook and the second hook may be disposed to overlap with each other in a radial direction, and may be coupled to each other by interference fit, thereby preventing moisture infiltration and air leakage even without a sealing member such as a sealant.

[0031] The first hook protruding from the outer frame and the second hook protruding from the inner frame may be fastened to each other, thereby allowing fastening between the outer frame and the inner frame even without drilling fastening holes.

[0032] Each of the first hook and the second hook may be defined in a ring shape along a circumferential direction.

[0033] The first hook may be disposed to have a larger diameter than the second hook. The second hook may be slidably coupled to an inner side of the first hook so that the first hook surrounds the second hook.

[0034] The second hook may be disposed in a stepped manner radially inward from an outer circumferential end of the inner frame. A mounting groove for mounting the first hook may be disposed between an outer circumferential end of the inner frame and an outer side of the second hook.

[0035] Each of the first hook and the second hook may be provided with a hook protrusion protruding toward each other, and inclined surfaces disposed to be inclined at both sides of the hook protrusion may have different inclinations.

[0036] The hook protrusions may be disposed to overlap with each other in a sliding direction. An inclination of the first inclined surfaces in contact with each other prior to fastening the first hook and the second hook may be lower than that of the second inclined surfaces in contact with each other subsequent to fastening the first hook and the second hook.

[0037] The outer frame may include a flat portion to which the front glass may be attached; and a mounting guide protruding forward from the flat portion to surround an outer circumferential surface of the front glass.

[0038] The first hook may protrude in a direction opposite to the mounting guide.

[0039] The first hook may be disposed at an outer side in a radial direction of the outer frame than the mounting guide.

[0040] The mounting guide and the first hook may be connected by an extension portion extending in a curved shape so as to gradually increase in diameter from a front end of the mounting guide to the first hook.

[0041] The front glass may be defined in a circular shape, and both front and rear surfaces thereof may be flat, and the mounting guide may be disposed to protrude at least two thirds of the front glass in thickness.

[0042] The front glass may be defined in a circular shape, and both front and rear surfaces thereof may be flat, and the mounting guide may be disposed to protrude in a length corresponding to the thickness of the front glass.

[0043] According to an example associated with the present disclosure, a laundry treating apparatus may include a main body having a laundry inlet port disposed at a front surface thereof; a laundry accommodating portion provided inside the main body to accommodate laundry; and a door rotatably provided on a front surface of the main body to open and close the laundry inlet port. The door may include an outer frame provided with a flat portion and an opening portion positioned at an inner side of the flat portion, and disposed toward an outer side of the main body; a front glass or a transparent front panel or plate (as aforementioned) attached to a front surface of the flat portion to cover the opening portion; an inner frame coupled to a rear surface of the outer frame, and disposed toward an inner side of the main body; a plurality of hooks extending from each of the outer frame and the inner frame to fasten the outer frame and the inner frame; and a pressing portion protruding from a rear surface of the outer frame to press a hook extending from the outer frame or the inner frame.

[0044] The outer frame may include an adhesive filling groove disposed to be concave in the flat portion to fill an adhesive for bonding the front glass. A plurality of, or at least one, adhesive overflow grooves may be disposed to be concave in the flat portion, and respectively disposed at an outer or inner side of the adhesive filling groove.

[0045] The pressing portion may press a second hook provided on a rear surface of the flat portion to protrude from an outer circumferential portion of the inner frame toward the outer frame.

[0046] The pressing portion may include a plurality of, or at least one, pressing ribs protruding from the flat portion toward an inner circumferential surface of the second hook. A connecting rib protruding along a circumferential direction of the flat portion to connect the plurality of pressing ribs.

[0047] The outer frame may include an adhesive filling groove disposed to be concave in the flat portion to fill an adhesive for bonding the front glass. A plurality of, or at least one, adhesive overflow grooves may be disposed to be concave in the flat portion, and respectively disposed at an outer or inner side of the adhesive filling groove, and the connecting rib may be disposed at an opposite side of one of the plurality of adhesive overflow grooves.

[0048] The pressing portion may include a plurality of, or at least one, support ribs protruding between a rear surface of the flat portion and an inner circumferential surface of the connecting rib to support the connecting rib.

[0049] The laundry treating apparatus may include a reinforcing rib protruding from a rear surface of the flat portion to an opposite side of the other one of the adhesive overflow grooves.

[0050] The plurality of hooks may include a first hook protruding from an outer circumference of the outer frame toward the inner frame; and a second hook protruding from an outer circumference of the inner frame toward the outer frame, and the outer frame may include an elastic groove disposed to be concave between the connecting rib and the first hook in a thickness direction of the flat portion to elastically deform the first hook when fastening between the first hook and the second hook.

[0051] The effects of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described as follows. One or more of the following effects may be realized by the subject-matter of independent claim(s).

[0052] First, the first hook may protrude from an outer circumference of the outer frame toward the inner frame, and the second hook may protrude from an outer circumference of the inner frame toward the outer frame, and the first hook and the second hook may be coupled to each other by interference fit, thereby sealing a gap between the outer frame and the inner frame even without a sealing member such as a sealant to prevent moisture infiltration and air leakage.

[0053] Second, the outer frame and the inner frame may be coupled to each other by a hook fastening structure, thereby improving a coupling force between the outer frame and the inner frame even without drilling fastening holes in the front glass.

[0054] Third, each of the first hook of the outer frame and the second hook of the inner frame may have a wedge-shaped hook protrusion, and each hook protrusion may be defined such that an inclination of the second inclined surfaces in contact with each other subsequent to fastening the first hook and the second hook may be higher than that of the first inclined surfaces in contact with each other prior to fastening, thereby allowing the second hook to easily enter an inside of the first hook while restricting the second hook from being separated from the first hook.

[0055] Fourth, an elastic groove may be disposed on a rear surface of the outer frame to guide the first hook to be deformed radially outward when the first hook of the outer frame and the second hook of the inner frame are fastened to each other, thereby allowing the second hook to easily enter an inside of the first hook to improve assembly performance between an outer frame and an inner frame.

[0056] Fifth, a pressing portion may include a plurality of pressing ribs, a connecting rib and a plurality of support ribs on a rear surface of the outer frame, and the pressing ribs may press the second hook when the first hook of the outer frame and the second hook of the inner frame are fastened to each other, thereby preventing the first hook from being deformed in the direction of gravity and more firmly maintaining a fastening force between the first hook and the second hook since the second hook may be deformed radially inward with respect to the first hook, or the first hook may be supported by the second hook against which the pressing rib may be pressed even though the weight of the front glass accounts for a relatively large proportion of the total weight of a door.

[0057] Sixth, the connecting rib may protrude from a rear surface of the outer frame to connect the plurality of pressing ribs, and defined in a ring shape along a circumferential direction, thereby enhancing a support strength of the outer frame and a pressing force of the plurality of pressing ribs with respect to the front glass.

[0058] Seventh, the plurality of support ribs may protrude from a rear surface of the outer frame, and may be integrally connected to an inner circumferential surface of the connection rib, thereby further enhancing a supporting force to the connection rib and the pressing ribs.

[0059] Eighth, a reinforcing rib may be arranged on a rear surface of the outer frame to correspond to the adhesive overflow grooves, thereby reinforcing a strength of the outer frame that has been lowered due to the arrangement of adhesive filling grooves and adhesive overflow grooves for bonding the front glass to a front side of the outer frame.

[0060] Ninth, the first hook of the outer frame may be defined to have a larger diameter than a mounting guide surrounding a side surface of the front glass, and coupled to the second hook by an interference fit to surround the second hook protruding from an outer circumference of the inner frame, thereby increasing an area occupied by the front glass and significantly reducing a size of the door frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] 

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which a door is seen from the front in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a state in which the door in FIG. 2 is disassembled.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual view showing a rear surface of the door in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a door is mounted on a front panel of a main body to close a laundry input port.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a hook fastening structure between an outer frame and an inner frame by taking a cross section along line VI-VI in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual view showing a hook fastening structure between an outer frame and an inner frame provided with a handle by taking a cross section along line VII-VII in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual view showing a state in which a hook is partially disposed on the handle as the inner frame in FIG. 4 is seen from the front.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0062] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar elements are designated with the same numeral references regardless of the numerals in the drawings and their redundant description will be omitted. A suffix "module" and "unit" used for constituent elements disclosed in the following description is merely intended for easy description of the specification, and the suffix itself does not give any special meaning or function. In describing the embodiments disclosed herein, moreover, the detailed description will be omitted when specific description for publicly known technologies to which the invention pertains is judged to obscure the gist of the present disclosure. Also, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings are merely illustrated to easily explain the concept of the invention, and therefore, they should not be construed to limit the technological concept disclosed herein by the accompanying drawings, and the concept of the present disclosure should be construed as being extended to all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the concept and technological scope of the invention.

[0063] Though the terms including an ordinal number such as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, the elements should not be limited by those terms. The terms are used merely for the purpose to distinguish an element from another element.

[0064] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected with" another element, the element can be directly connected with the other element or intervening elements may also be present. On the contrary, in case where an element is "directly connected" or "directly linked" to another element, it should be understood that any other element is not existed therebetween. Generally, an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus may be formed by four side-walls or panels - including a front side wall or front panel at which the door in installed, a back side wall or rear panel which is opposite to the front side wall or the front panel, and two side side-walls or side panels which extend between the front side wall and the back side wall i.e. between the front panel and the rear panel. In addition to the front panel, rear panel, and two side panels, the external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus may further be defined by a top panel and a bottom panel, which may also be referred to as top side or bottom side or simply as a top and a bottom, i.e. base, of the laundry treating apparatus. The bottom panel or bottom side or bottom may be understood as a surface of the laundry treating apparatus which faces the surface on which the laundry treating apparatus may be installed, for normal use i.e. when the laundry treating apparatus is in intended upright position. The top panel or top side or top may be the surface opposite to the bottom panel or base of the laundry treating apparatus. Generally, the bottom and the top of the laundry treating apparatus may be disposed substantially parallel to each other. Generally, the front panel and the rear panel of the laundry treating apparatus may be disposed substantially parallel to each other. Generally, the two side panels of the laundry treating apparatus may be disposed substantially parallel to each other. Unless otherwise specified, any references to direction(s) or position(s) or orientation(s) or location(s) or like expressed by use of terms such as `up', 'upward', 'upper', 'top', 'above', `vertical', 'up-down', 'down', 'downward' 'lower', 'bottom', 'below', 'beneath', and like terms, may be understood with respect to the base and/or with respect to the top of the laundry treating apparatus, preferably with the door in a closed state. Unless otherwise specified, any reference to direction(s) or position(s) or orientation(s) or location(s) or like expressed by use of terms such as `horizontal' or 'side' or like terms may be understood as a direction extending between the two side panels of the laundry treating apparatus, preferably with the door in a closed state. Unless otherwise specified, any reference to direction(s) or position(s) or orientation(s) or location(s) or like expressed by use of terms such as 'front', 'in-front', 'behind', 'before', 'outer', 'outward', 'outwardly', `inner', 'inward', 'inwardly', 'back', 'rear' or like terms may be understood with respect to the front panel and/or with respect to the rear panel of the laundry treating apparatus, preferably with the door in a closed state. Unless otherwise specified, any reference to direction(s) or position(s) or orientation(s) or location(s) or like expressed by use of terms such as 'radial', 'radially', 'circumferential', 'circumferentially', 'axial', axially' or like terms may be understood with respect to an axis of a laundry accommodating portion, e.g. drum, of the laundry treating apparatus, preferably with the door in a closed state. When referring to a component or element or body having a substantially circular substantially planar shape or having a shape with a substantially circular cross-section - unless otherwise specified, any reference to direction(s) or position(s) or orientation(s) or location(s) or like, expressed by use of terms such as 'radial', 'radially', 'circumferential', 'circumferentially', 'axial', axially', `inner', `outer', or like terms may be understood with respect to a center of the shape or cross-section or axis disposed normal to such center. Any references to thickness of the outer frame, the inner frame, the transparent front panel (the front glass), the handle, etc. may be understood to be along an axial direction of the door; or simply put along axial direction of the laundry accommodating portion when the door is closed, unless otherwise specified.

[0065] A singular representation may include a plural representation as far as it represents a definitely different meaning from the context.

[0066] Terms "include" or "has" used herein should be understood that they are intended to indicate the existence of a feature, a number, a step, a constituent element, a component or a combination thereof disclosed in the specification, and it may also be understood that the existence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof are not excluded in advance.

[0067] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0068] The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a main body 10, a tub, a drum, and a door 12.

[0069] The main body 10 may define an outer shape of the laundry treating apparatus. The main body 10 may be defined in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0070] The main body 10 includes a front panel 101 defining a front surface of the laundry treating apparatus, a rear panel defining a rear surface of the laundry treating apparatus, side panels defining both sides of the laundry treating apparatus, a top panel defining a top surface of the laundry treating apparatus, and a bottom panel defining a bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0071] The rear panel and the left and right side panels may be defined in a "⊏" shape by bending one rectangular plate, thereby improving the structural rigidity of the main body 10.

[0072] A laundry inlet port 102 may be defined in a circular shape on the front panel 101 (see FIG. 5). The laundry inlet port 102 may be defined to pass through the front panel 101 so as to put laundry into the laundry accommodating portion through the laundry inlet port 102.

[0073] The laundry inlet port 102 may be disposed in the front panel 101 such that a recess portion 103 is recessed toward an inside of the main body 10 to surround the laundry inlet port 102. The laundry inlet port 102 is disposed to pass through an inside of the recess portion 103. Part of the door 12 may be accommodated in the recess portion 103.

[0074] The door 12 may be rotatably coupled to the front panel 101 by a hinge 25 to open and close the laundry input port 102.

[0075] A laundry accommodating portion may be provided inside the main body 10. The laundry accommodating portion may include a drum to perform a drying function, or a tub and a drum to perform washing and drying functions together.

[0076] In the present embodiment, in order to perform a drying function with washing, a tub and a drum may be provided inside the main body 10. The tub may be defined in a cylindrical shape, the central shaft of the tub in a length direction may be disposed horizontally or in an inclined manner at a predetermined angle. Wash water may be stored inside the tub.

[0077] The drum may be rotatably provided inside the tub.

[0078] A gasket may be provided at a front end portion of the tub to communicate with the laundry inlet port 102 so as to prevent the wash water stored inside the tub from being leaked into an accommodation space of the main body 10.

[0079] The drum may be provided to be rotatable with respect to the tub inside the tub.

[0080] A front portion of the drum may be open to be connected in communication with the laundry input port 102, and laundry may be accommodated inside the drum through the laundry input port 102.

[0081] A drive motor may be provided on a rear surface of the tub, and the drive motor may be connected to a rotating shaft on a rear surface of the drum to rotate the drum by transmitting the power of the drive motor to the drum through the rotating shaft as the drive motor is driven.

[0082] A plurality of through holes may be arranged on a circumferential surface of the drum to allow a fluid such as wash water to enter and exit the drum through the plurality of through holes.

[0083] The drum may be configured to have a plurality of lifters therein to rotate laundry accommodated inside the drum, thereby performing washing and drying functions.

[0084] The control unit 11 may be provided in the main body 10 or provided in the door 12. In the present embodiment, it is shown a state that the control unit 11 is located above the front panel 101 of the main body 10.

[0085] The control unit 11 is configured to display information related to a stroke processed by the laundry treating apparatus to a user and to receive the user's operation. The control unit 11 may include a circular knob and a plurality of buttons for receiving a user's manipulation. In addition, the control unit 11 may include a display for displaying visual information.

[0086] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the door 12 is seen from the front in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a state in which the door 12 in FIG. 2 is disassembled.

[0087] The door 12 may include a door frame 13, a door window 23, a front glass 20, a hinge unit 24, and a locking unit 30.

[0088] The door frame 13 may be defined in a ring shape.

[0089] The door frame 13 may include an outer frame 14 and an inner frame 19. The outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may be made of a synthetic resin material (e.g., ABS material, PC material, etc.).

[0090] Each of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may be manufactured by injection molding when made of a synthetic resin material.

[0091] The outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may be respectively defined in a ring shape, and overlapped and fastened to each other in a front-rear direction. A fastening structure between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 will be described later in detail.

[0092] Describing the reason for the naming of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19, the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 13 are named as such since the outer frame 14 is disposed toward the outside of the main body 10 and the inner frame 19 is disposed toward the inside of the main body 10 based on a state in which the door 12 is closed. The outer frame 14 may be referred to as a first frame, and the inner frame 19 may be referred to as a second frame.

[0093] Circular opening portions 18 are defined to correspond to each other inside the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19, respectively.

[0094] The opening portions 18 may be eccentrically positioned at the center of each of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19. For example, the center of the opening portion 18 may be positioned above the center of each of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19.

[0095] According to this configuration, each of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may vary in width along a circumferential direction. In other words, a distance (width) between the outer diameter and the inner diameter (the opening portion 18 diameter) of each of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may be configured to increase (widen) from the top end to the bottom end.

[0096] The center of the drum may be disposed higher than the center of height (1/2) of the main body 10.

[0097] The drum is fixed in a height direction of the main body 10 aside from a minute vibration due to rotation.

[0098] Consumers tend to prefer a larger size of the door 12 to the same capacity and size of the washing machine when looking at the body 10 from the front.

[0099] In addition, consumers are able to look into the drum through the door 12 and, if possible, prefer to have a wide field of view with regard to an inner space of the drum.

[0100] In order to satisfy the needs of the above-mentioned consumers, the door 12 may be enlarged downward to increase the size of the door 12 while the position of the drum is fixed.

[0101] The center of the door frame 13 may move below the center of the laundry inlet port 102 or the opening portion 18. Similarly, the center of the door frame 13 may move downward with respect to the door window 23 positioned to correspond to the opening portion 18.

[0102] In addition, in order to increase the size of the door 12, it is preferable that part of the door 12 protrudes outward from the recess portion 103. A diameter of the door 12 is preferably defined to be larger than the recess portion 103.

[0103] The front glass 20 is defined in a circular shape having a preset radius. The front glass 20 is made of a glass material.

[0104] The front glass 20 is disposed flat on the front and rear surfaces thereof.

[0105] The front glass 20 is defined in a disc shape having a constant thickness, and defined without bending even when viewed from anywhere up, down, left, or right.

[0106] As described above, the front and rear surfaces of the front glass 20 made of a glass material are disposed flat in a circular shape, thereby enhancing the quality grade of the door 12, compared to a door cover in the related art made of a synthetic resin material that has a convex front surface in an incomplete circular shape.

[0107] A transparent alignment mark 221 is defined in a non-transparent region 22. The alignment mark 221 is a structure for guiding the attachment position of the front glass 20 with respect to the outer frame 14. In the present drawing, it is shown that a circular alignment mark 221 is positioned at a lower side (6 o'clock direction) of the front glass 20. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. The alignment mark 221 may be formed in a polygonal shape or may be formed in a line shape. Of course, the position of the alignment mark 221 may be changed.

[0108] The front glass 20 may implement a transparent region 21, a non-transparent region 22, and an alignment mark 221 through the following layer structure.

[0109] For an example, the front glass 20 may include a glass body made of a transparent glass material and a shielding layer disposed to cover a rear surface of the glass body to define the non-transparent region 22. In this case, a portion where the shielding layer is not disposed define the transparent region 21 and the alignment mark 221. The shielding layer may be made by glass printing on a rear surface of the glass body.

[0110] For another example, the front glass 20 may include a glass body made of a transparent glass material and a film disposed to cover a rear surface of the glass body. The film may include a transparent portion disposed to have a transparency corresponding to the transparent region 21, a non-transparent portion disposed to have an opacity corresponding to the non-transparent region 22, and an alignment mark 221 disposed to have a transparency corresponding to the alignment mark 221.

[0111] For still another example, the front glass 20 may include a glass body made of a transparent glass material and a film disposed to cover a rear surface of the glass body. Here, there is a difference from the above example in that the film includes a first hole disposed to correspond to the transparent region 21, a non-transparent portion disposed to have an opacity corresponding to the non-transparent region 22, and a second hole disposed to correspond to the alignment mark 221. In other words, there is a difference in whether a portion corresponding to the transparent region 21 and the alignment mark 221 in the film is disposed to have a transparency or has a perforated shape.

[0112] The front glass 20 may be disposed to cover the opening portion 18 of the door frame 13. The front glass 20 may be bonded to a front surface of the outer frame 14 by a sealant or an adhesive.

[0113] Due to the nature of the glass material, it is easy to break when a fastening hole is drilled in the front glass 20, and thus the front glass 20 is attached to the outer frame 14 using an adhesive or the like to prevent the glass from being broken.

[0114] On the other hand, the front glass 20 made of a glass material occupies a relatively large load compared to the total load of the door 12. In order to support the load of the front glass 20, a mounting guide 34 for mounting the front glass 20 is provided on a front surface of the outer frame 14.

[0115] In particular, the front glass 20 may be made of tempered glass. Due to the nature of the tempered glass, front and rear surfaces of the front glass 20 have a high strength, but it has a disadvantage that a circular outer circumferential surface, which is a side surface of the front glass 20, has a low strength.

[0116] To compensate for this, the mounting guide 34 may be disposed to protrude forward from a front outer circumferential end of the outer frame 14 to surround an outer circumferential surface of the front glass 20, to support the load of the front glass 20 as well as to protect a side surface of the front glass 20 from an external shock.

[0117] A protruding length of the mounting guide 34 may be defined to cover at least 2/3 of the thickness of the front glass 20.

[0118] This is because an external impact can be applied to an outer circumferential surface of the front glass 20, and the load of the front glass 20 cannot be sufficiently supported when the protruding length of the mounting guide 34 is too short.

[0119] For example, a straight portion 202 and a plurality of curved portions 201, 203 may be arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the front glass 20 (see FIG. 7). The plurality of curved portions 201, 203 may include a first curved portion 201 connected to a front surface of the front glass 20 and a second curved portion 203 connected to a rear surface of the front glass 20. Each of the curved portions 201, 203 has a preset curvature and is defined in a curved shape.

[0120] The straight portion 202 is disposed between the first and second curved portions 201, 203 and connected to the plurality of curved portions 201, 203, respectively. Each of the first curved portion 201, the straight portion 202, and the second curved portion 203 may be 1/3 of the thickness of the front glass 20.

[0121] The mounting guide 34 may be configured to cover the second curved portion 203 and the straight portion 202 of the front glass 20.

[0122] The mounting guide 34 may protrude from a front edge portion of the outer frame 14. The mounting guide 34 extends in a ring shape to define a space in which the front glass 20 is accommodated.

[0123] The mounting guide 34 has a preset inner diameter to define a circle. An inner diameter of the mounting guide 34 corresponds to an outer diameter of the front glass 20, and thus the mounting guide 34 is configured to surround an outer circumferential surface of the front glass 20.

[0124] The mounting guide 34 may be disposed to protrude to a predetermined thickness so as to define the same plane as the front surface of the front glass 20. According to this configuration, a step between the mounting guide 34 and the front glass 20 may be eliminated to implement a simpler appearance.

[0125] The transparent region 21 and the non-transparent portion region 22 may be disposed at inner and outer sides, e.g. radially inner and outer sides, of the front glass 20, respectively.

[0126] The transparent region 21 denotes a region, preferably around and including a center of the front glass 20, configured to transmit at least part of light so that the opposite side to the inside can be seen. Therefore, the transparent region 21 is a concept including a translucent region 21. In other words, transparent region 21, that may be generally circular in shape, allows a user to view an inside of the laundry accommodating portion, e.g. the drum, through the front panel 101.

[0127] The transparent region 21 may be disposed to correspond to the opening portion 18 of the outer frame 14, the opening portion 18 of the inner frame 19, and the door window 23. Therefore, while the door 12 is closed, the user may look into the laundry accommodating portion through the transparent region 21.

[0128] The center of the transparent region 21 is located at a position corresponding to the center of the opening portion 18 of each of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19. Here, the corresponding position includes not only the perfect coincidence of the center, but also the same in the eccentric direction of the center. In other words, the center of the transparent region 21 and the center of the opening portion 18 may coincide, and the eccentric direction of the transparent region 21 may be the same as the eccentric direction of the opening portion 18.

[0129] In the present embodiment, it is shown that the center of the opening portion 18 is eccentrically located from the center of the door frame 13 to the upper side (12 o'clock direction), and correspondingly, the center of the transparent region 21 is also located from the center of the front glass 20 to the upper side (12 o'clock direction). Here, the center of the transparent region 21 and the center of the opening portion 18 may coincide.

[0130] The non-transparent region 22 is disposed to surround the transparent region 21, and the non-transparent region 22 does not transmit light therethrough, and the glass itself may appear black.

[0131] The non-transparent region 22 may be disposed to cover the remaining portion of the door frame 13 except for the opening portion 18 and part of the door frame 13.

[0132] A boundary line between the transparent region 21 and the non-transparent region 22 surrounding the transparent region 21 may be clearly distinguished by the non-transparent region 22.

[0133] Alternatively, the boundary between the transparent region 21 and the non-transparent region 22 may be blurred through a halftone technique, thereby allowing a movement from the transparent region 21 to the non-transparent region 22 to be visually transitioned. To this end, the non-transparent region 22 may include a plurality of shielding dots arranged around the transparent region 21, and the plurality of shielding dots may be arranged to have a lower density toward the transparent region 21.

[0134] The outer frame 14 may include a flat portion 15 and a curved portion 16.

[0135] The flat portion 15 may be in contact with a rear surface of the front glass 20, and part of the flat portion 15 may be disposed to overlap with the non-transparent region 22. An adhesive may be applied to the flat portion 15 so that the front glass 20 can be adhered to the flat portion 15.

[0136] A filling groove 43 for filling an adhesive on a front surface of the flat portion 15 of the outer frame 14 may be concave in a thickness direction of the flat portion 15 on the front surface of the flat portion 15.

[0137] The adhesive may be accommodated in the adhesive filling groove 43, and a rear surface of the front glass 20 may be adhered to the flat portion 15 by the adhesive.

[0138] The adhesive may overflow to the outside or the inside of the adhesive filling groove 43 when the adhesive filling groove 43 is filled. In order to accommodate the adhesive overflowing from the adhesive filling groove 43 therein, adhesive overflow grooves 441, 442 may be disposed to be concave in a ring shape on the inside and the outside of the adhesive filling groove 43, respectively (see FIG. 6).

[0139] The adhesive filling groove 43 and the plurality of adhesive overflow grooves 441, 442 may extend in a circumferential direction of the outer frame 14.

[0140] The adhesive filling groove 43 and the plurality of adhesive overflow grooves 441, 442 may be disposed outside the flat portion 15.

[0141] The non-transparent region 22 of the front glass 20 may be disposed to cover the adhesive filling groove 43 and the adhesive overflow grooves 441, 442 of the flat portion 15.

[0142] The plurality of adhesive overflow grooves 441, 442 may include a first adhesive overflow groove 441 and a second adhesive overflow groove 444.

[0143] The first adhesive overflow groove 441 may be defined in a ring shape on an outer side of the adhesive filling groove 43 in a radial direction. The second adhesive overflow groove 442 may be defined in a ring shape at an inner side of the adhesive filling groove 43. The plurality of adhesive overflow grooves 441, 442 accommodate the adhesive when the adhesive overflows after filling in the filling groove 43.

[0144] A plurality of drain holes 48 may be arranged in a penetrating manner at a lower side of the flat portion 15 in a thickness direction to discharge water or moisture formed between a rear surface of the front glass 20 and a front surface of the outer frame 14 to an outside of the door 12 through the drain holes 48.

[0145] The curved portion 16 may be defined to be curved in an arc shape having a predetermined curvature toward an outer circumference of the opening portion 18 of the inner frame 19 from an inner end of the flat portion 15. An inner portion of the flat portion 15 and the curved portion 16 may be disposed to overlap with an outer edge portion of the transparent region 21. The opening portion 18 may be disposed at an inner side of the curved portion 16 in a radial direction.

[0146] The mounting guide 34 may protrude from the flat portion 15 along a circumferential direction at the outermost portion of the flat portion 15. The mounting guide 34 of the outer frame 14 may be configured to surround an outer edge of the front glass 20, thereby preventing the outer edge of the front glass 20 from be released radially outward from the flat portion 15 of the outer frame 14.

[0147] A plating layer 17 may be disposed on front and outer circumferential surfaces of the outer frame 14 by chromium plating. The outer frame 14 is completely immersed in a chromium plating solution, and thus the plating layer 17 may be disposed on the entire surface of the outer frame 14 by chromium plating.

[0148] The plating layer 17 is configured to coat the outer frame 14 with a silver polished metal color. According to this, the plating layer 17 may obtain an effect which looks like a circular droplet by bright silver. In addition, the plating layer 17 may cause a sense of high quality and the like when viewed with the naked eye.

[0149] The door window 23 may be disposed to correspond to the laundry input port 102 while the door 12 is closed. The door window 23 may be mounted to the door frame 13 to correspond to the opening portion 18 of the inner frame 19.

[0150] The door window 23 is made of a transparent material, for example, a synthetic resin material having a light transmitting property, so that an inner space of the laundry accommodating portion such as a drum can be visually seen through the door window 23. The door window 23 may not be necessarily limited to a synthetic material but may also be made of a glass material.

[0151] An outer edge portion of the door window 23 may be inserted and coupled between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19.

[0152] The outer edge portion of the door window 23 may have a flat shape, and may be disposed and fixed between a rear end of the curved portion 16 of the outer frame 14 and an inner end of the inner frame 19.

[0153] Part of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may protrude forward from the recess portion 103 in the closed state of the door 12, and the other part of the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may be provided to be accommodated in the recess portion 103.

[0154] The flat portion 15 of the outer frame 14 may be disposed outside the recess portion 103, but may protrude forward from the recess portion 103, and a rear end portion of the curved portion 16 of the outer frame 14 may be accommodated inside the recess portion 103.

[0155] A front portion of an outer circumference of the inner frame 19 may protrude outward from the recess portion 103, and a rear portion of the outer circumference portion of the inner frame 19 may be accommodated in the recess portion 103.

[0156] The front glass 20 may be spaced apart in an outward-forward direction from the recess portion 103, and disposed vertically.

[0157] The door 12 may be rotatably provided in a front-rear direction with respect to the main body 10 by the hinge unit 24.

[0158] The hinge unit 24 may include a hinge 25, a hinge holder 28, and a bush 29.

[0159] The hinge 25 may be fixed to the main body 10, and rotatably coupled to the door frame 13. The hinge 25 may include a plate-shaped base portion 26 coupled to the main body 10, and a rotation coupling portion 27 protruding from the base portion 26 and rotatably coupled to the door frame 13. A plurality of rotation coupling portions 27 may be provided and spaced apart in a vertical direction.

[0160] The hinge holder 28 may be coupled to the door frame 13 to support the rotation coupling portions 27 to prevent the rotation coupling portion 27 from being released from the door frame 13.

[0161] A bush 29 may be inserted into the rotating shaft of the rotary coupling portion 27 to efficiently rotate the rotating shaft.

[0162] The hinge unit 24 may be mounted at one side of the door 12, and the locking unit 30 may be provided at the other side of the door 12. The locking unit 30 is configured to lock or unlock the door 12 to the body 10.

[0163] The locking unit 30 may include a shaft 31, a door latch 32 (door latch) and a spring 33.

[0164] The shaft 31 may be configured to pass through the door latch 32, and mounted on the door frame 13. The spring 33 has an elastic force to be retractable during the rotation of the door latch 32.

[0165] According to this configuration, the door latch 32 may be configured to be rotatable and restorable to the door frame 13 so as to lock or unlock the door 12 to the main body 10.

[0166] FIG. 4 is a conceptual view showing a rear surface of the door 12 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the door 12 is mounted on the front panel 101 of the main body 10 to close the laundry input port 102, and FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a hook fastening structure between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 by taking a cross section along line VI-VI in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a conceptual view showing a hook fastening structure between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 provided with a handle 35 by taking a cross section along line VII-VII in FIG. 4, and FIG. 8 is a conceptual view showing a state in which a hook is partially disposed on the handle 35 as the inner frame 19 in FIG. 4 is seen from the front.

[0167] FIG. 5 shows a state in which the control unit of FIG. 1 is removed from an upper side of the front panel 101.

[0168] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the handle 35 is defined in a depressed manner on a rear upper side of the inner frame 19 for the user to open the door 12 by pulling the handle 35.

[0169] A rear surface of the inner frame 19 may be defined to be convex rearward in a curved shape.

[0170] The handle 35 is provided on the door 12 for the user to open and close the door 12. In the related art, the handle is generally provided at a front side of the door. However, in the present disclosure, since the front glass 20 is provided to cover a front surface of the door 12, it is difficult to provide the handle 35 on the front glass 20.

[0171] Thus, the handle 35 is not provided on the front surface of the door 12 due to the front glass 20, and preferably provided on a rear surface of the door 12. The handle 35 is provided on the inner frame 19.

[0172] In addition, the handle 35 is preferably provided at an upper portion of the door 12 for the user to easily pull the door 12. Because, when the handle 35 is provided at a lower portion of the door 12, the user has to bend his or her waist and knees more to pull the handle 35.

[0173] Moreover, since the hinge unit 24 and the locking unit 30 are respectively provided at left and right sides of the door frame 13 along a horizontal center line that horizontally passes through the center of the door frame 13 in a radial direction, they - i.e. the hinge unit 24 and the locking unit 30 - are preferably positioned higher than the horizontal center line.

[0174] In addition, the handle 35 is preferably disposed above the door frame 13 to be higher than the locking unit 30 in order to open and close the door 12 with a little force.

[0175] The handle 35 may be disposed at a rear upper side of the inner frame 19. While the door 12 is closed, the handle 35 may be disposed at an upper right side to be higher than the locking unit 30 when viewed from the front of the main body 10, that is, within a section between 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock along a circumferential direction in a clockwise direction.

[0176] The handle 35 may be disposed in a recessed manner on a rear surface of the inner frame 19. The handle 35 may be defined in an arc shape along a partial section in a circumferential direction on a rear surface of the inner frame 19.

[0177] The handle 35 may be defined in a thin and flat shape compared to an outer circumference of the inner frame 19 (a portion other than the handle 35).

[0178] According to this configuration, when the door 12 is closed by the user, the handle 35 is recessed forward compared to a rear outer circumference of the inner frame 19 and defined in a flat shape when viewed from the front of the main body 10, thereby facilitating the insertion of the user's hand into the handle 35 as well as facilitating the identification of the position of the handle 35 in the closed state of the door 12.

[0179] In order to fasten the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 to each other, hooks 37, 36 are disposed on the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19, respectively.

[0180] The hooks 37, 36 may include a first hook 37 provided on the outer frame 14 and a second hook 36 provided on the inner frame 19. Each of the first hook 37 and the second hook 36 may be defined in a ring shape along a circumferential direction.

[0181] The first hook 37 may protrude from the outer frame 14 toward the inner frame 19. The first hook 37 may be disposed outside in a radial direction of the mounting guide 34 to surround the outer circumference of the inner frame 19. The first hook 37 may be disposed outside the mounting guide 34 when viewed from the front of the main body 10.

[0182] The mounting guide 34 and the first hook 37 are integrally connected by the extension portion 341. The extension portion 341 extends from the mounting guide 34 to the first hook 37. The extension portion 341 extends from the mounting guide 34 to the first hook 37 to gradually increase in diameter. The extension portion 341 is defined in a curved shape.

[0183] Each of the mounting guide 34, the first hook 37, and the extension portion 341 extends along a circumferential direction of the outer frame 14.

[0184] According to this configuration, the mounting guide 34, the extension portion 341 and the first hook 37 may define the outer circumferential surface of the outer frame 14 in one curved shape to cover the inner frame 19 so as to cover up the main body 10 when seen from the front of the main body 10, thereby beautifying the appearance of the door 12. Each of the mounting guide 34, the extension portion 341 and the first hook 37 may be defined in a curved or inclined surface shape so that the diameter increases gradually from the mounting guide 34 to the first hook 37 without wrinkles or steps.

[0185] The first hook 37 and the second hook 36 may be disposed to radially overlap with each other.

[0186] The first hook 37 may have a larger diameter than the second hook 36, and the second hook 36 may be inserted into the first hook 37.

[0187] A mounting groove 191 may be disposed between an outer circumferential end of the inner frame 19 and the second hook 36 along a circumferential direction. The second hook 36 is disposed in a stepped manner radially inward from the outer circumferential end of the inner frame 19. A radial height of the mounting groove 191 may be disposed to be the same or similar to a thickness of the first hook 37.

[0188] According to this, after the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 are fastened to each other, a step is eliminated between an outer circumferential end of the first hook 37 and an outer circumferential end of the inner frame 19, thereby beautifying the appearance of the door 12.

[0189] The first hook 37 protrudes backward from an outer circumference of the outer frame 14 toward the inner frame 19. A hook protrusion 371 may protrude radially inward toward the second hook 36 on an inner circumferential surface of the first hook 37.

[0190] The second hook 36 protrudes forward from an outer circumference of the inner frame 19 toward the outer frame 14. A hook protrusion 361 may protrude radially outward toward the first hook 37 on an outer circumferential surface of the second hook 36. The hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37 and the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 may protrude parallel to each other in a radial direction.

[0191] The hook protrusions 371, 361 may be defined in a wedge shape at each end portion of each of the first hook 37 and the second hook 36. The hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37 and the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 may be disposed to overlap with each other in an axial direction. The hook protrusions 371, 361 facilitate engagement between the first hook 37 and the second hook 36 toward each other but do not allow them from being released from each other in opposite directions.

[0192] Each of the hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37 and the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 may be configured with a first inclined surface in contact with each other prior to fastening and a second inclined surface disposed to be inclined on an opposite side of the first inclined surface to be in contact with each other subsequent to fastening. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface change the slopes of the hook protrusions 371, 361 in opposite directions with respect to the vertices of the hook protrusions 371, 361, respectively.

[0193] The slopes of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface may be different from each other. The first inclined surface of each of the hook protrusions 371, 361 facing each other prior to fastening may be disposed to have a lower slope than the second inclined surface of each of the hook protrusions 371 and 361 facing each other subsequent to fastening.

[0194] In other words, the second inclined surface of each of the hook protrusions 371 and 361 facing each other subsequent to fastening is disposed to have a higher slope than the first inclined surface of each of the hook protrusions 371, 361 facing each other prior to fastening.

[0195] According to this configuration, the first hook 37 and the second hook 36 may move toward each other in an axial direction to engage the hook protrusions 371, 361 with each other, thereby fastening the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19.

[0196] Moreover, the wedge-shaped hook protrusions 371, 361 may facilitate engagement between the first hook 37 and the second hook 36 toward each other but prevent them from being released from each other in opposite directions as long as there is no damage of the first hook 37 or the second hook 36.

[0197] In other words, when the first hook 37 and the second hook 36 move toward each other in an axial direction to fasten the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19, a movement resistance between the hook protrusions 371, 361 prior to fastening may be reduced, and the hook protrusions 371, 361 may be restricted from moving in a direction of being released from each other while the second inclined surfaces are brought into contact with each other subsequent to fastening the first hook 37 and the second hook 36.

[0198] The outer frame 14 is provided with an elastic groove 38 and a pressing portion to support the heavy load front glass 20 and to firmly maintain a hook fastening structure between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19.

[0199] The pressing portion may include a plurality of pressing ribs 39, connecting ribs 40, and support ribs 41.

[0200] The elastic groove 38 may be disposed radially inward from the first hook 37 on a rear surface of the outer frame 14. The elastic groove 38 may be disposed to be concave in a thickness direction of the flat portion 15 on a rear surface of the flat portion 15 of the outer frame 14.

[0201] The elastic groove 38 is configured to be more concave in a thickness direction of the flat portion 15 at an inner side of the first hook 37 so that the thickness of the first hook 37 decreases, thereby allowing the first hook 37 to be elastically deformed radially outward.

[0202] According to this configuration, when the second hook 36 enters an inner side of the first hook 37 in an axial direction, the hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37 may spread outward in a radial direction while the hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37 and the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 are brought into contact with each other, thereby facilitating the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 to enter an inside of the hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37.

[0203] In addition, as a radial pressing force between the hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37 and the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 is released while the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 passes through the highest point of the hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37, the first hook 37 is restored to its original position from the deformed position, thereby allowing the hook protrusion 371 of the first hook 37 and the hook protrusion 361 of the second hook 36 to be engaged with each other.

[0204] A plurality of pressing ribs 39 may be arranged on a rear surface of the flat portion 15. The pressing ribs 39 are configured to protrude from a rear surface of the flat portion 15 to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the second hook 36 so as to press the second hook 36 when fastening between the first hook 37 and the second hook 36. The pressing ribs 39 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the flat portion 15.

[0205] According to this configuration, the pressing ribs 39 press an inner circumferential surface of the second hook 36 radially outward when fastening between the first hook 37 and the second hook 36. Accordingly, since the second hook 36 is not pushed inward in a radial direction, a fastening state between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may be firmly maintained without being axially released from each other after the hook protrusions 361, 371 of each of the first hook 37 and the second hook 36 are fastened to each other.

[0206] In addition, the pressing ribs 39 may press the second hook 36, thereby enhancing a coupling force between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19.

[0207] The pressing ribs 39 are located radially inward from the elastic grooves 38 on a rear surface of the outer frame 14.

[0208] An entry guide surface 391 may be disposed to be inclined toward the elastic groove 38 on a rear surface of the pressing rib 39. The entry guide surface 391 may guide the movement of the second hook 36 to guide the second hook 36 to be inserted between the pressing rib 39 and the first hook 37.

[0209] The entry guide surface 391 may facilitate the entry of second hook 36 into first hook 37, thereby improving assembly performance.

[0210] The connecting rib 40 may protrude in a rearward direction on a rear surface of the outer frame 14, and may extend along a circumferential direction in a ring shape. The connecting rib 40 is configured to connect the plurality of pressing ribs 39.

[0211] The connecting rib 40 may protrude from an opposite side of the first adhesive overflow groove 441 toward the inner frame 19 on a rear surface of the flat portion 15.

[0212] Some or all of the connecting ribs 40 may be disposed to overlap in a thickness direction of the first adhesive overflow groove 441 and the flat portion 15.

[0213] According to this configuration, the connecting rib 40 may reinforce the reduction of rigidity caused by a smaller thickness of one side of the flat portion 15 due to the adhesive overflow groove 441.

[0214] The elastic groove 38 may be disposed between the connecting rib 40 and the first hook 37. The elastic groove 38 may have an inner inclined surface disposed to be inclined so that a thickness of the flat portion 15 gradually decreases from the connecting rib 40 to the first hook 37.

[0215] A plurality of support ribs 41 may protrude from a rear surface of the outer frame 14. The plurality of support ribs 41 may have a trapezoidal plate structure to extend vertically in a radial direction.

[0216] The plurality of support ribs 41 may be spaced apart in a circumferential direction. One side of each of the plurality of support ribs 41 may be integrally connected to a rear surface of the flat portion 15. An outer surface perpendicular to one side of the support ribs 41 is integrally connected to the connection rib 40, and thus the plurality of support ribs 41 may be connected to one another by the connection rib 40. The other side of the support ribs 41 positioned on a side opposite to the one side of the support ribs 41 may be disposed in parallel with the flat portion 15.

[0217] According to this configuration, the plurality of support ribs 41 may be integrally arranged to be in direct contact with an inner surface of the connecting rib 40 and the flat portion 15 so as to firmly support the connecting rib 40 and the pressing ribs 39.

[0218] The plurality of pressing ribs 39 and the plurality of support ribs 41 may be disposed to face each other in a radial direction inner and outer sides of the connection rib 40 by interposing the connection rib 40 therebetween.

[0219] The plurality of support ribs 41 may be arranged to overlap with each other in a thickness direction of the adhesive filling groove 43 and the flat portion 15 on a rear surface of the flat portion 15.

[0220] According to this configuration, the support ribs 41 may compensate for the weakening of the rigidity of the flat portion 15 due to the adhesive filling groove 43.

[0221] A reinforcing rib 42 may protrude from an opposite side of the second adhesive overflow groove 442 disposed at an inner side of the adhesive filling groove 43 between a plurality of adhesive overflow grooves 441, 442 on a rear surface of the flat portion 15.

[0222] The reinforcing rib 42 may be disposed to overlap with the second adhesive overflow groove 442 in a thickness direction of the flat portion 15.

[0223] According to this configuration, the reinforcing rib 42 may compensate for the weakening of the flat portion 15 due to the adhesive overflow groove.

[0224] The handle 35, which is part of the inner frame 19, has a lower thickness than a portion other than the handle 35 on an outer edge portion of the inner frame 19. The handle 35 does not axially cover an outer surface of the first hook 37 of the outer frame 14.

[0225] Due to this, a hook fastening structure between the handle 35 and the outer frame 14 is somewhat different from a hook fastening structure between the inner frame 19 and the outer frame 14.

[0226] A plurality of second hooks 47 of the handle 35 may be spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the handle 35.

[0227] Each of the plurality of second hooks 47 arranged on the handle 35 may have different lengths in a circumferential direction.

[0228] The first hook 46 of the outer frame 14 and the second hook 47 of the handle 35 may protrude in parallel to each other in a radial direction.

[0229] The first hook 46 of the outer frame 14 may protrude radially inward from an inner circumferential surface of the outer frame 14, and the second hook 47 of the handle 35 may protrude radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of the handle 35.

[0230] The first hook 46 of the outer frame 14 and the second hook 47 of the handle 35 may be disposed to overlap in a thickness direction of the handle 35 to engage with each other in the thickness direction when the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 are fastened to each other.

[0231] A chamfer part 461 may be disposed to be inclined at a preset angle at one edge of the first hook 46. A contact part 462 may be disposed substantially vertically at the other side of the first hook 46.

[0232] The chamfer part 471 may be disposed to be inclined at a preset angle at one edge of the second hook 47 of the handle 35. The contact portion 472 may be formed substantially vertically at the other side of the second hook 47 of the handle 35.

[0233] According to this configuration, when the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 are fastened to each other in a front-rear direction (axial direction), the chamfer parts 461, 471 are in contact with each other, thereby facilitating the second hook 47 of the handle 35 to enter an inside of the first hook 46 of the outer frame 14.

[0234] In addition, subsequent to fastening the outer frame 14 and the handle 35, the contact portions 462, 472 of each of the first hook 46 of the outer frame 14 and the second hook 47 of the handle 35 are in contact with each other substantially vertically, thereby preventing them from being released from each other.

[0235] The elastic groove 38 is disposed to be concave in a thickness direction on a rear surface of the flat portion 15 of the outer frame 14, and thus the first hook 46 is elastically deformable radially outward by the elastic groove 38 when the first hook 46 is inserted into and coupled to an inside of the second hook 47.

[0236] Moreover, the second hook 36 may easily enter an inside of the first hook 37 by the chamfer parts 461, 471.

[0237] Besides, the first hook 37 and the second hook 36 may be prevented from being released from each other by the contact portions 462, 472.

[0238] A reinforcing rib 45 may protrude toward the second adhesive overflow groove 442 at one side of the handle 35.

[0239] The reinforcing rib 42 may be disposed to be in contact with an opposite side of the second adhesive overflow groove 442. The reinforcing rib 45 of the handle 35 may compensate for the weakening of the strength of the flat portion 15 caused by a smaller thickness of the flat portion 15 due to the second adhesive overflow groove 442.

[0240] In addition, the reinforcing rib 42 may serve as a spacer for maintaining a constant gap between the handle 35 and the flat portion 15, thereby reducing the thickness of the handle 35.

[0241] Moreover, the reinforcing rib 42 may not only reinforce the strength of the handle 35 even when the thickness of the handle 35 is reduced, but also maintain a contact state between the contact portion 462 of the first hook 46 and the contact portion 472 of the second hook 47.

[0242] Accordingly, coupling and assembly performance between the outer frame 14 and the inner frame 19 may be improved by a fastening structure between the first hook 46 of the outer frame 14 and the second hook 47 of the handle 35.
It follows a list of examples:

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a main body (10) having a laundry inlet port (102) disposed at a front surface thereof;

a laundry accommodating portion provided inside the main body (10) to accommodate laundry; and

a door (12) rotatably provided on a front surface of the main body (10) to open and close the laundry inlet port (102) through the laundry inlet port (102),

wherein the door (12) comprises:

an outer frame (14) provided with an opening portion (18), and disposed toward an outer side of the main body (10);

a transparent front panel (20) attached to a front surface of the outer frame (14) to cover the opening portion (18) of the outer frame (14);

an inner frame (19) disposed at a rear surface of the outer frame (14) toward an inner side of the main body (10) and coupled to the outer frame (14); and

a plurality of hooks (36, 37, 46, 47) extending from the outer frame (14) and the inner frame (19) to fasten the outer frame (14) and the inner frame (19) to each other,

wherein the plurality of hooks (36, 37, 46, 47) comprise:

a first hook (37) protruding from an outer circumference of the outer frame (14) towards the inner frame (19); and

a second hook (36) protruding from an outer circumference of the inner frame (19) towards the outer frame (14), and

wherein a part of the first hook (37) and a part of the second hook (36) are engaged with each other.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to example 1, wherein the transparent front panel (20) is made of glass or tempered glass.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to example 1 or 2, wherein the first hook (37) and the second hook (36) have arcuate shapes extending along circumferential directions of the outer frame (14) and the inner frame (19), respectively; and
wherein the first hook (37) is disposed to have a larger diameter than the second hook (36), and the second hook (36) is couplable to the first hook (37) by being slid axially to a radially inner side of the first hook (37) so that the first hook (37) surrounds the second hook (36) in the coupled state.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 3, wherein the outer frame (14) comprises:
an elastic groove (38) disposed on the rear surface of the outer frame (14) between the first hook (37) and the outer circumference of the outer frame (14) and configured to be elastically deform the first hook (37) when receiving the second hook (36).

5. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 4, wherein the second hook (36) is disposed in a stepped manner radially inward from an outer circumferential end of the inner frame (19), and a mounting groove (191) for mounting the first hook (37) is disposed between an outer circumferential end of the inner frame (19) and a radially outer side of the second hook (36).

6. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 5, wherein each of the first hook (37) and the second hook (36) is provided with a hook protrusion (371, 361) protruding toward each other.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of example 6,

wherein the first hook (37) comprises inclined surfaces disposed at both sides of the hook protrusion (371) and the inclined surfaces of the first hook (37) have different inclinations; and/or

wherein the second hook (36) comprises inclined surfaces disposed at both sides of the hook protrusion (361) and the inclined surfaces of the second hook (36) have different inclinations.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of example 7, wherein the hook protrusions (371, 361) are disposed to overlap with each other by being slid in an axial direction, and an inclinations of the inclined surfaces of the first and the second hooks (36, 37) that come in contact with each other prior to coupling the first and the second hooks (37, 36) is lower than that of the inclined surfaces that are in contact with each other subsequent to coupling of the first and the second hooks (37, 36).

9. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 8, wherein the outer frame (14) comprises:

a flat portion (15) to which the transparent front panel (20) is attached; and

a mounting guide (34) protruding outward from the flat portion (15) to surround an outer circumferential surface of the transparent front panel (20); and

wherein the first hook (37) protrudes in a direction opposite to the mounting guide (34); and/or

wherein the first hook (37) is disposed radially outward than the mounting guide (34); and/or

wherein the mounting guide (34) and the first hook (37) are connected by an extension portion (341) extending in a curved shape so as to gradually increase in diameter from a front end of the mounting guide (34) to the first hook (37).

10. The laundry treating apparatus of example 9, wherein the transparent front panel (20) is disc shaped having planar front and rear surfaces thereof, and

wherein the mounting guide (34) is disposed to protrude from a front surface of the flat portion (15) so as to overlap at least two thirds of a thickness of the transparent front panel (20), or

wherein the mounting guide (34) is disposed to protrude from a front surface of the flat portion (15) so as to overlap entire thickness of the transparent front panel (20).

11. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 10, comprising:
a pressing portion (39, 40) protruding from the rear surface of the outer frame (14) and configured to press the second hook (36) toward the first hook (37) .

12. The laundry treating apparatus of example 11, wherein the pressing portion (39, 40) comprises:

a plurality of pressing ribs (39) protruding toward an inner circumferential surface of the second hook (36); and

a connecting rib (40) extending circumferentially on the outer frame (14) and protruding toward the inner frame (19) and interconnect the plurality of pressing ribs (39).

13. The laundry treating apparatus of example 12, wherein the pressing portion (39, 40, 41) further comprises:
a plurality of support ribs (41) protruding from the rear surface of the outer frame (14) and radially extending on the rear surface of the outer frame (14) to support the connecting rib (40).

14. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 13, wherein the outer frame (14) comprises:

an adhesive filling groove (43) recessed into the front surface of the outer frame (14) and configured to accommodate an adhesive for bonding the transparent front panel (20) to the outer frame (14); and

at least one adhesive overflow groove (441, 442) recessed into the front surface of the outer frame (14), and disposed radially outward or inward of the adhesive filling groove (43).

15. The laundry treating apparatus of example 14 and any one of examples 12 and 13, wherein the connecting rib (40) is disposed to overlap with the at least one adhesive overflow groove (441, 442) in a thickness direction of the outer frame (14).

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a main body (10) having a laundry inlet port (102) disposed at a front surface thereof;

a laundry accommodating portion provided inside the main body (10) to accommodate laundry; and

a door (12) rotatably provided on a front surface of the main body (10) to open and close the laundry inlet port (102),

wherein the door (12) comprises:

an outer frame (14) provided with an opening portion (18), and disposed toward an outer side of the main body (10);

a transparent front panel (20) attached to a front surface of the outer frame (14) to cover the opening portion (18) of the outer frame (14);

an inner frame (19) disposed at a rear surface of the outer frame (14) toward an inner side of the main body (10) and coupled to the outer frame (14); and

a plurality of hooks (36, 37, 46, 47) extending from the outer frame (14) and the inner frame (19) to fasten the outer frame (14) and the inner frame (19) to each other;

wherein the outer frame (14) comprises a flat portion (15) to which the transparent front panel (20) is attached, and a mounting guide (34) protruding forward from the flat portion to surround an outer circumferential surface of the transparent front panel (20); and

wherein the plurality of hooks (36, 37, 46, 47) comprise:

a first hook (37) protruding from an outer circumference of the outer frame (14) towards the inner frame (19); and

a second hook (36) protruding from an outer circumference of the inner frame (19) towards the outer frame (14), and

wherein a part of the first hook (37) and a part of the second hook (36) are engaged with each other.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first hook (37) has a larger diameter than a diameter of the mounting guide (34).

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first hook (37) protrudes in a direction opposite to the mounting guide (34).

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first hook (37) is disposed at an outer side in a radial direction of the outer frame (14) than the mounting guide (34).

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transparent front panel (20) is made of glass or tempered glass.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first hook (37) and the second hook (36) have arcuate shapes extending along circumferential directions of the outer frame (14) and the inner frame (19), respectively; and
wherein the first hook (37) is disposed to have a larger diameter than the second hook (36), and the second hook (36) is couplable to the first hook (37) by being slid axially to a radially inner side of the first hook (37) so that the first hook (37) surrounds the second hook (36) in the coupled state.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer frame (14) comprises:
an elastic groove (38) disposed on the rear surface of the outer frame (14) between the first hook (37) and the outer circumference of the outer frame (14) and configured to elastically deform the first hook (37) when receiving the second hook (36).

8. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second hook (36) is disposed in a stepped manner radially inward from an outer circumferential end of the inner frame (19), and a mounting groove (191) for mounting the first hook (37) is disposed between an outer circumferential end of the inner frame (19) and a radially outer side of the second hook (36).

9. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first hook (37) and the second hook (36) is provided with a hook protrusion (371, 361) protruding toward each other, wherein the first hook (37) comprises inclined surfaces disposed at both sides of the hook protrusion (371) and the inclined surfaces of the first hook (37) have different inclinations; and/or wherein the second hook (36) comprises inclined surfaces disposed at both sides of the hook protrusion (361) and the inclined surfaces of the second hook (36) have different inclinations.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the hook protrusions (371, 361) are disposed to overlap with each other by being slid in an axial direction, and an inclinations of the inclined surfaces of the first and the second hooks (36, 37) that come in contact with each other prior to coupling the first and the second hooks (37, 36) is lower than that of the inclined surfaces that are in contact with each other subsequent to coupling of the first and the second hooks (37, 36).

11. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting guide (34) and the first hook (37) are connected by an extension portion (341) extending in a curved shape so as to gradually increase in diameter from a front end of the mounting guide (34) to the first hook (37).

12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transparent front panel (20) is disc shaped having planar front and rear surfaces thereof, and

wherein the mounting guide (34) is disposed to protrude from a front surface of the flat portion (15) so as to overlap at least two thirds of a thickness of the transparent front panel (20), or

wherein the mounting guide (34) is disposed to protrude from a front surface of the flat portion (15) so as to overlap entire thickness of the transparent front panel (20).

13. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a pressing portion (39, 40) protruding from the rear surface of the outer frame (14) and configured to press the second hook (36) toward the first hook (37);
wherein the pressing portion (39, 40) comprises:

a plurality of pressing ribs (39) protruding toward an inner circumferential surface of the second hook (36);

a connecting rib (40) extending circumferentially on the outer frame (14) and protruding toward the inner frame (19) and interconnecting the plurality of pressing ribs (39); and

a plurality of support ribs (41) protruding from the rear surface of the outer frame (14) and radially extending on the rear surface of the outer frame (14) to support the connecting rib (40).

14. The laundry treating apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer frame (14) comprises:

an adhesive filling groove (43) recessed into the front surface of the outer frame (14) and configured to accommodate an adhesive for bonding the transparent front panel (20) to the outer frame (14); and

at least one adhesive overflow groove (441, 442) recessed into the front surface of the outer frame (14), and disposed radially outward or inward of the adhesive filling groove (43).

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14 when depending on claim 13, wherein the connecting rib (40) is disposed to overlap with the at least one adhesive overflow groove (441, 442) in a thickness direction of the outer frame (14).

Drawing