CN111593536B - Clothes treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, including: a housing; an outer tub disposed inside the cabinet; a drum disposed inside the tub; an electric heater coupled to a bottom portion of the outer tub to heat wash water inside the outer tub; and a bracket provided at the outer tub to support the electric heater to be spaced apart from the bottom, wherein the bracket includes: an electric heater receiving portion in which an electric heater is received; and a sensing part protruding upward at one side of an upper portion of the electric heater receiving part to sense an erroneous assembly of the electric heater. Therefore, the erroneous mounting of the electric heater can be quickly recognized.

Description

Clothes treating device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus (apparatus).

Background

As is well known, a laundry treatment apparatus is an apparatus for treating (decontaminating) clothes or laundry through a washing process, a rinsing process and/or a dehydrating process. The laundry treating apparatus may also be configured to have a drying function of drying the laundry after the washing course, the rinsing course, and/or the dehydrating course. Clothing includes washable articles, such as bedding, curtains, cloth dolls, and the like, such as bedding.

The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a tub disposed inside the cabinet, and a rotating tub (drum) rotatably disposed inside the tub. The cabinet is provided with a detergent box to supply detergent into the outer tub.

The outer tub is provided with an electric heater to heat the washing water. A washing water collecting space is provided at a bottom portion of the outer tub to collect the washing water. An electric heater is coupled to the washing water collecting space.

The washing water collecting space is provided with an electric heater bracket (hereinafter, referred to as a "bracket") for supporting the electric heater to be spaced apart from a bottom surface of the washing water collecting space. The bracket is provided with an electric heater receiving (receiving) portion to receive and couple the electric heater therein.

However, in such a laundry treating apparatus in the related art, there is a problem in that the electric heater is not correctly inserted into the electric heater receiving portion of the cradle when the electric heater is coupled to the cradle, and in a case where the electric heater is disposed outside the electric heater receiving portion, it is not easily detected by an operator.

In view of these problems, there is known a heater bracket provided with a support in contact with an electric heater to suppress (prevent) erroneous fitting (mis-assembly) of the electric heater at an upper side of an electric heater receiving portion.

However, in such a laundry treating apparatus in the related art, the supporter is bent at the upper center of the heater receiving portion, and there are problems as follows: a greater amount of material is introduced during formation of the heater bracket, thereby increasing material consumption.

Further, when the supporter is provided at the upper center of the heater receiving portion, in the case where the electric heater is inserted and provided at the upper side of the supporter, there is a problem in that it is not easy to detect the erroneous assembly of the electric heater.

[ Prior art documents ]

(patent document 1) KR20030092185A

(patent document 2) KR20050115815A

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a bracket capable of quickly recognizing an erroneous assembly of an electric heater.

Further, another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a carrier capable of reducing a material consumption amount during manufacturing of the carrier.

Further, it is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a bracket allowing an electric heater to be disposed at a horizontal position where the electric heater is normally mounted and a tilted position where the electric heater is erroneously mounted and tilted, respectively.

Further, it is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a bracket capable of suppressing occurrence of interference (interference) of an electric heater when the electric heater is erroneously mounted at an upper side of a heater receiving portion.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is technically characterized in that a sensing portion (sensing section) protrudes upward at an upper side of a bracket, and an electric heater is tilted by the sensing portion.

More specifically, the bracket may include an electric heater receiving portion in which the electric heater is received, and the sensing portion may protrude upward at a point moving to one side from a center of the electric heater receiving portion, and thus when the electric heater is erroneously inserted into an upper side of the heater receiving portion, the electric heater may be unilaterally supported and inclined by the sensing portion, thereby rapidly recognizing that the electric heater is erroneously assembled.

The laundry treating apparatus may include: a housing; an outer tub disposed inside the cabinet; and a drum disposed inside the tub.

The bracket may be provided at a bottom portion of the outer tub to support the electric heater to be spaced apart from the bottom of the outer tub.

The electric heater may be provided with a protective tube and a heating wire provided inside the protective tube to generate heat when electric power is applied (energized).

The protection pipe of the electric heater is configured to include a plurality of straight pipe portions arranged linearly in parallel with each other and a curved pipe portion connecting the straight pipe portions.

The bracket may be made of a metal member, and the electric heater receiving portion may have an inverted "U" sectional shape that is open downward to receive the electric heater therein.

The electric heater receiving part may include two (booth) side surface parts and an upper surface part, and the sensing part may protrude upward at a point moving to one side in a left-right direction from a center of the upper surface part.

Therefore, when the electric heater is normally fitted (inserted) into the electric heater receiving part, the electric heater can be disposed at a horizontal position. In contrast, when the electric heater is erroneously fitted (incorrectly inserted) to the upper side of the electric heater receiving part, either side of the electric heater may be supported by the sensing part, and the other side of the electric heater may be supported by the upper surface part of the electric heater receiving part, and therefore, the electric heater may be disposed at an inclined position inclined to either side. Therefore, according to the arrangement form of the electric heater, the operator can easily recognize whether the electric heater is normally assembled or not based on whether the electric heater is at a horizontal position of normal assembly or an inclined position of erroneous assembly.

The sensing part may be configured such that a preset compressive force is applied from the inside of the electric heater receiving part to plastically deform a portion of the electric heater receiving part so as to be recessed (concave) upward from the inside and protruded to the outside.

Therefore, the material consumption amount of the bracket can be significantly reduced compared to bending the sensing portion at one side of the electric heater receiving portion.

The width of the sensing portion may decrease toward the upper side.

More specifically, the sensing part may be defined such that a left-right width of the sensing part is gradually reduced along a left-right direction of the cabinet.

Further, the sensing part may be defined such that a front-to-rear width of the sensing part is gradually reduced along a front-to-rear direction of the cabinet.

Therefore, the sensing portion can be easily defined.

Further, when the electric heater is erroneously inserted into the upper side of the electric heater receiving portion rather than the inside, the occurrence of interference between the electric heater and the sensing portion can be reduced.

The sensing portion may include two side surface portions and an upper surface portion.

The sensing part may have an inverted "U" sectional shape with an open lower side.

Between both side surface portions of the sensing part, a side surface portion disposed near a center of the electric heater receiving part in a left-right direction of the cabinet may include a guide slope defined to be inclined downward toward the center.

Therefore, when the electric heater is erroneously fitted at the upper side of the electric heater receiving portion, the electric heater can be guided by the guide slope and easily switched to the inclined position.

More specifically, the guide slope may be defined such that a front-to-rear width thereof gradually decreases in a front-to-rear direction of the cabinet.

The guide slope may have a triangular shape.

The sensing part may be configured such that an upper surface thereof is inclined downward in a rear direction and connected to an upper surface of the electric heater receiving part.

Therefore, when the electric heater is erroneously fitted at the upper side of the electric heater receiving portion, the electric heater may smoothly move along the upper surface of the sensing portion when the electric heater comes into contact with the sensing portion, thereby suppressing the occurrence of interference between the electric heater and the sensing portion.

The bracket may include: a base; and a support portion spaced upward from the base portion to support the electric heater from below.

The support part may be provided in a rear region of the electric heater receiving part.

The support portion may include an inclined portion inclined upward in a rear direction from the base portion.

Therefore, the electric heater inserted into the electric heater receiving portion can be smoothly spaced apart from the bottom.

The support portion may further include an arc portion (rounded portion) defined as a curved sectional shape at an upper end of the inclined portion.

Therefore, the occurrence of interference of the electric heater can be suppressed to facilitate the assembly of the electric heater.

The arcuate portion may be disposed parallel to the base.

Therefore, the electric heater may be horizontally supported by the arc portion and disposed at a horizontal position.

The center of the support part may be provided with a screw fastening part bent downward.

The screw fastening portion may be provided at the center of the support portion.

Cut-out portions (cut-out portions) defined by cutting the base may be provided at a front side of the support portion, and the cut-out portions may be provided at both sides of the screw fastening portion, respectively.

The washing water collecting space is provided at a bottom portion of the outer tub to collect the washing water.

The washing water collecting space is provided with a bracket coupling portion to which the bracket is coupled.

The bracket coupling portion may be made of a plastic member.

The bracket coupling portion may be integrally formed during the formation of the outer tub.

The bracket may be provided with a screw fastening portion fastened to the bracket coupling portion by a screw.

The screw fastening portion may protrude downward from the base of the bracket.

The bracket coupling parts may be spaced apart from each other so that both side parts of the bracket are inserted with a predetermined width, respectively.

Here, the bracket coupling portions may be spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction of the cabinet.

The bracket coupling part may include upper and lower support ribs that support the bracket while being in contact with the bracket at upper and lower sides of the bracket, respectively.

The bracket may be provided with an engaging piece that is caught by the bracket coupling portion after the bracket is inserted into the bracket coupling portion to suppress the separation.

The engaging pieces may be provided at both sides of the bracket, respectively.

The engaging pieces may be provided in plurality to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the cabinet.

The width of the engaging member may be gradually reduced toward the front along the front-rear direction of the cabinet.

The engaging member may define a tip portion at the front portion.

The engagement member may be inclined upwardly towards the front of the bracket.

The engaging piece may be inclined upward toward the front of the bracket coupling part, and thus, the tip portion may be slidably inserted into the bracket coupling part in contact with an inner ceiling (inner ceiling) of the bracket coupling part during the insertion of the bracket coupling part and engaged to an inner ceiling surface of the bracket coupling part during the separation, thereby suppressing an unintentional separation of the bracket from the bracket coupling part.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a sensing portion protruding upward to detect mis-assembly of an electric heater may be provided at one side of a bracket, thereby quickly recognizing the mis-assembly of the electric heater.

The sensing part may be recessed from an inner side of the electric heater receiving part to protrude to an outside thereof, thereby significantly reducing a material consumption amount during the manufacturing of the bracket.

The sensing portion may be defined such that the width decreases toward the upper side, thereby facilitating the formation of the sensing portion.

The sensing part may be provided with a guide slope inclined downward toward the center of the side surface part disposed near the middle between the two side surface parts, thereby smoothly switching the electric heater to the inclined position during the misassembly.

An upper surface of the sensing part may be inclined downward toward the rear side and connected to an upper surface portion of the electric heater receiving part, thereby suppressing occurrence of interference between the electric heater and the sensing part when the electric heater is erroneously mounted at an upper side of the electric heater receiving part.

The bracket may include a base and a support spaced apart from the base, thereby supporting the electric heater to be spaced apart from the bottom.

The support part may include an inclined portion inclined upward toward the rear side and an arc-shaped portion having a curved sectional shape at an end of the inclined portion, thereby facilitating the normal assembly of the electric heater.

The bracket coupling portion may be provided at the bottom surface of the tub, and the bracket may be provided with an engaging piece caught by the bracket coupling portion, thereby inhibiting the bracket from being unintentionally released after the bracket is assembled.

The sensing part may be defined such that a preset compressive force is applied from the inside of the electric heater receiving part to protrude the electric heater receiving part to the outside to be plastically deformed, thereby reducing an amount of material consumption that is unnecessarily consumed during the manufacture of the bracket.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a main portion of the laundry treating apparatus in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the electric heater in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view illustrating a main portion of the washing water collecting space of fig. 2 where a bracket of an outer tub is provided.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the bracket in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sensing portion of fig. 5 taken along line VI-VI.

Fig. 7 is a front view showing the bracket in fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the bracket in fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the sensing portion in fig. 8 taken along line IX-IX.

Fig. 10 is a side view showing the bracket in fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a view for explaining a process of defining a sensing portion of the cradle in fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a view showing a horizontal position at which the electric heater is normally fitted into the cradle of fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a view showing an inclined position in which the electric heater is erroneously fitted at an upper side of the electric heater receiving portion of the cradle in fig. 4.

Fig. 14 is a side view illustrating the electric heater in fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the electric heater in fig. 13.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Even in different embodiments according to the present disclosure, the same or similar reference numerals are designated to the same or similar configurations, and the description thereof will be replaced with the earlier description. As used in this disclosure, singular expressions may include plural meanings unless clearly used otherwise. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is judged that a detailed description for a well-known technology to which the present disclosure pertains may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, a detailed description will be omitted. Also, it should be noted that the drawings are only shown for easily explaining the concepts of the present disclosure, and therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the technical concepts disclosed herein by the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a main portion of the laundry treating apparatus in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet 10, an outer tub 30, an electric heater 110, and a bracket 200.

The cabinet 10 defines an external appearance and is implemented in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An inlet is provided at a front surface of the cabinet 10 to allow laundry to enter and exit. The front side of the cabinet 10 is provided with a door 12 for opening and closing an entrance. A control panel 11 is provided at an upper side of the door 12 to select an operation mode. The control panel 11 is provided with, for example, a dial 13 and a plurality of operation buttons 14.

The outer tub 30 is disposed inside the inner frame 10. The outer tub 30 defines a receiving space for wash water therein. The outer tub 30 has a cylindrical shape. The front side of the outer tub 30 is provided with an opening corresponding to the inlet. The outer tub 30 has a first outer tub 30a (front tub) and a second outer tub 30b (rear tub) coupled to each other along the front and rear of the cabinet 10. The drum 35 is rotatably received inside the outer tub 30. The drum 35 has a cylindrical shape with a front opening. The laundry is received into and taken out of the drum 35 through the inlet of the cabinet 10, the opening of the tub 30, and the opening of the drum 35.

The first and second outer tubs 30a and 30b are integrally coupled to each other after the drum 35 is accommodated (accommodated) therein. The drum 35 rotates about a rotation shaft (not shown) provided at the rear end. A rear region of the outer tub 30 is provided with a driving motor (not shown) for rotating the drum 35. The cabinet 10 is provided with a detergent box 100 for supplying detergent into the outer tub 30. A drain pipe 45 is provided at a bottom portion of the outer tub 30 to allow the washing water therein to be drawn out. The first outer tub 30a is provided with a drain connection part 41 connected to a drain pipe 45.

On the other hand, the washing water collecting space 50 is provided at a bottom portion of the outer tub 30 to collect the washing water. The washing water collecting space 50 is provided with an electric heater 110 for heating the washing water therein. The washing water collecting space 50 is provided with an electric heater bracket or bracket 200 (hereinafter, referred to as "bracket 200") for supporting the electric heater 110 to be spaced apart from the bottom surface. An electric heater coupling portion 55 coupled to the electric heater 110 is provided in the washing water collecting space 50. The electric heater 110 is hermetically coupled to the electric heater coupling portion 55 to suppress leakage of the washing water. In the present embodiment, it is illustrated that the electric heater coupling part 55 is provided in the first outer tub 30a and the bracket 200 is coupled to the second outer tub 30b, but this is merely an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The electric heater coupling part 55 may be provided in the second outer tub 30b, and the bracket 200 may also be provided in the first outer tub 30 a.

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the electric heater 110 in fig. 2. As shown in fig. 3, the electric heater 110 includes a protection pipe 120 having a receiving space therein, and a heating wire 130 disposed inside the protection pipe 120 to generate heat when power is applied. As is well known, the heating wire 130 is composed of a resistor, and generates resistance heat when power is applied. Although not specifically shown in the drawings, the heating wire 130 is electrically insulated from the protection pipe 120 by an electrical insulator. The heating wire 130 may be defined in a coil shape, for example. The heater wire 130 is connected to the power supply line 145. When power is supplied to the heater wire 130 through the power supply line 145, the heater wire 130 generates heat. The protection pipe 120 of the electric heater 110 is defined, for example, by bending a long length of pipe having a predetermined diameter several times.

The protection tube 120 of the electric heater 110 includes a plurality of straight tube portions 120a arranged in parallel with each other and a bent tube portion 120b connecting the straight tube portions 120 a. In the present embodiment, a case is shown in which four straight tube portions 120a and three bent tube portions 120b are provided, but this is merely an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Of the four straight tube portions 120a, two straight tube portions 120a disposed on both outer sides thereof have a relatively long length, and two straight tube portions 120a disposed on inner sides thereof have a relatively short length. At the end portions (lower end portions in the drawing) of the two straight tube portions 120a provided at the outer side, a support member 140 is provided. The support member 140 is sealingly coupled to support the protection pipe 120 and to restrain the washing water from leaking to the electric heater coupling part 55. Of the four straight tube portions 120a, two straight tube portions 120a located at the center have a relatively short length, and both ends thereof are connected to each other by a bent tube portion 120b. The protection tube 120 may be defined by bending a long length of tube to define four straight tube portions 120a and three bent tube portions 120b. A gap is provided between the bent tube portions 120b of the electric heater 110.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view illustrating a main portion of the washing water collecting space 50 of fig. 2 where the bracket 200 of the outer tub 30 is provided. As shown in fig. 4, the washing water collecting space 50 protrudes downward at the center of the outer tub 30. The washing water collecting space 50 is provided in a size capable of receiving a preset washing water therein. The washing water collecting space 50 has a size capable of allowing the electric heater 110 to be immersed in water without being exposed to the outside of the water surface. The washing water collecting space 50 has two side surfaces 56 and one bottom surface 57, and has a rectangular sectional shape with an upper side opened. The washing water collecting space 50 is defined such that both sides 56 thereof are spaced apart in the right and left direction of the cabinet 10.

The washing water collecting space 50 is provided with a bracket coupling portion 70 coupled to the bracket 200. The bracket 200 has a length disposed in the left-right direction of the cabinet 10. More specifically, the washing water collecting space 50 is provided in both the first and second outer tubs 30a and 30b. For example, the bracket coupling portion 70 is provided in the second outer tub 30b. The bracket coupling portion 70 is defined to allow both sides of the bracket 200 to be inserted to a predetermined depth.

The bracket coupling portions 70 are respectively disposed adjacent to both sides of the washing water collecting space 50. The bracket coupling portions 70 are disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to the center line (Lc) in the left-right direction of the cabinet 10. The bracket coupling portion 70 has a "U" sectional shape opened to the center side of the washing water collecting space 50. The bracket coupling portion 70 includes a bottom surface portion 70a, an upper surface portion 70b, and a side surface portion 70c. Here, the bottom surface portion of the bracket coupling portion 70 actually defines a portion of the bottom surface of the washing water collection space 50. The bracket coupling part 70 is provided with upper and lower support ribs 81 and 83 which are in contact with the upper and lower sides of the bracket 200, respectively, to support the bracket 200.

The upper support rib 81 protrudes downward from the upper surface portion 70b of the bracket coupling portion 70. The upper support rib 81 extends in the front-rear direction of the cabinet 10. The upper support rib 81 is spaced apart from the side surface portion 70c by a predetermined distance in the left and right direction of the cabinet 10. An engaging piece (engaging piece) receiving space 70d is provided between the side surface portion of the bracket coupling portion 70 and the upper support rib 81 to receive an engaging piece which will be described later.

The lower support rib 83 protrudes upward from the bottom surface portion of the bracket coupling portion 70. The lower support rib 83 is provided with a pair arranged in parallel with each other. The lower support ribs 83 extend in the front-rear direction of the cabinet 10, respectively. The lower support ribs 83 correspond to both sides of the upper support rib 81, respectively. Extension lines of the upper support ribs 81 correspond between the lower support ribs 83.

The washing water collecting space 50 is provided with a bracket supporting portion 90 contacting with a bottom surface of the bracket 200 to support the bracket 200. The bracket supporting portion 90 is defined in a stepped shape having a vertical surface 90a and a horizontal surface 90b (see fig. 2) vertically disposed from the bottom surface of the washing water collecting space 50. A vertical surface 90a and a horizontal surface 90b are defined in the left-right direction to be connected between the bracket coupling portions 70. The screw coupling portion 92 is provided on the vertical surface 90a of the bracket supporting portion 90 so that the screw 95 passing through the bracket 200 can be coupled thereto. The screw coupling member 92 is provided with a female screw (internal thread) to allow a male screw (external thread) of the screw 95 to be threadedly coupled thereto. The regions of the bracket 200 (regions of the base 210 and the support 270 described later) are placed on the horizontal surface 90b of the bracket support portion 90 and supported by the horizontal surface 90 b.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the bracket 200 of fig. 4, and fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of the sensing part 250 of fig. 5. As shown in fig. 5, the cradle 200 includes an electric heater receiving portion 230 and a sensing portion 250. The bracket 200 is made of a metal member. The cradle 200 includes an electric heater receiving portion 230 in which the electric heater 110 is received. Here, the electric heater 110 is coupled to pass through the inside of the electric heater receiving part 230, and a region of the electric heater 110 is received into the electric heater receiving part 230.

The bracket 200 is defined by machining a substantially rectangular plate-like metal member (base material). The bracket 200 has a length (L) (left-right width in the drawing) corresponding to the width of the electric heater 110 and a width (W) (front-back width in the drawing) reduced from the length. In the present embodiment, a case where the left-right width (length (L)) of the bracket 200 is defined to be larger than the front-rear width (W)) thereof is illustrated, but this is merely an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The cradle 200 includes a base 210 and an electric heater receiving part 230 protruding upward from the base 210. The electric heater receiving portion 230 is defined to have an inner width capable of receiving the straight tube portion 120a of the electric heater 110. The electric heater receiving part 230 is provided with an open lower side. More specifically, the electric heater receiving part 230 may be configured such that a compressive force is applied upward to an area (a front area in the present embodiment) of the base 210 to plastically deform it, thereby allowing the two side surface parts 250a and the upper surface part 250b to have an inverted "U" -shaped sectional shape.

One side of the electric heater receiving part 230 is provided with a support part 270 for supporting the electric heater 110 from below. The supporting part 270 is disposed at a rear region of the electric heater receiving part 230. The bracket 200 is provided with an engaging piece 290 caught by the bracket coupling part 70 to restrain the bracket 200 from being released when being inserted into the bracket coupling part 70. The engaging pieces 290 are respectively provided at both sides of the base 210. The engaging members 290 are provided in plurality (the number of the engaging members is plural) and spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the cabinet 10. In the present embodiment, a case where four engaging pieces 290 are located at both sides of the bracket 200 in pairs is illustrated, but this is merely an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, the cradle 200 has a sensing portion 250 that protrudes upward at a point that is shifted to one side (left side on the drawing) by a preset distance from the center (indicated by the center line (Lc)) of the electric heater receiving portion 230. Here, when the sensing portion 250 is disposed at the central region of the electric heater receiving portion 230, the occurrence of interference (the possibility of) between the front end portion (the bent tube portion 120 b) of the electric heater 110 and the sensing portion during the insertion of the electric heater 110 may increase. Further, in the case where the sensing portion (not shown) is provided at the upper center of the electric heater receiving portion 230, when the electric heater 110 is inserted centrally (at the center) into the upper side of the sensing portion, the electric heater 110 is maintained in a horizontal state, and thus it cannot be distinguished from the case where the electric heater 110 is normally inserted into the electric heater receiving portion 230, so that it is difficult to recognize the erroneous assembly of the electric heater 110.

In the present embodiment, a case is shown where the sensing portion 250 is provided at a point shifted to the left from the center (center line (Lc)) of the electric heater receiving portion 230 in the left-right direction of the cabinet 10, but this is merely an example, and although not shown in detail in the drawing, the sensing portion may be provided at a point shifted to the upper right side of the electric heater receiving portion 230.

The sensing unit 250 is pressurized from the inside of the electric heater receiving part 230 to be upwardly depressed to protrude to the outside thereof. The sensing part 250 includes two side surface parts 250a and an upper surface part 250b. As shown in fig. 6, the upper surface portion 250b of the sensing part 250 is inclined downward and connected to the upper surface portion 230b of the electric heater receiving part 230. A bead 235 is provided at the rear side of the sensing part 250. The bead 235 is recessed downward. The electric heater receiving part 230 is provided with a cut-off part 232 cut off backward.

The support portion 270 is provided with an inclined portion 270a inclined upward from the base portion 210. The support portion 270 is provided with an arc-shaped portion 270b bent at the upper end of the inclined portion 270a to have a curved sectional shape. Based on this, when the electric heater 110 is received in the electric heater receiving part 230, the front end portion (the bent pipe portion 120 b) of the electric heater 110 is moved upward along the inclined portion 270a to effectively perform the insertion of the electric heater 110. Further, after the electric heater 110 is inserted, the contact between the arc portion 270b and the electric heater 110 is effectively performed. In other words, scratches, damage, and friction of the electric heater 110 and/or the supporting part 270 are reduced to facilitate assembly of the electric heater 110. A plurality of beads (tabs) 272 for reinforcement are provided between the base 210 and the inclined portion 270a.

The bracket 200 has a screw fastening portion 280 fixed to the outer tub 30 by a screw 95 when the bracket coupling portion 70 is coupled to the bracket. The screw fastening portion 280 extends downward from the base portion 210. The screw fastening portion 280 passes through the screw hole 282 so that the screw 95 is inserted therein. The screw hole 282 opens downward. The screw fastening portion 280 is configured to have, for example, a width (Ws) larger than an internal width (gap) between the straight tube portions 120a at the center of the electric heater 110.

Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating the cradle 200 in fig. 5. As shown in fig. 7, the sensing part 250 includes two side surface parts 250a and an upper surface part 250b. Between the two side surface portions 250a, a side surface portion (right side surface portion in the drawing) disposed adjacent to the center (center line (Lc)) of the electric heater receiving portion 230 in the left-right direction of the cabinet 10 has a guide slope (inclined surface) 252 inclined downward toward the center (center line (Lc)). The guide slope 252 may be an outer surface (right side in the drawing) of one side surface portion 250a of the sensing portion 250. According to this configuration, when the electric heater 110 is erroneously inserted into the upper side of the electric heater receiving portion 230, the left portion (straight tube portion 120 a) of the electric heater 110 can be effectively guided upward by the guide inclined surface 252 without significant interference, thereby allowing the electric heater 110 to be easily switched (set) to an inclined position inclined with respect to the horizontal line.

The screw fastening portion 280 is provided at the center of the bracket 200. The screw fastening portion 280 is bent downward from the base portion 210. The front regions of the engaging pieces 290 respectively disposed at both sides of the bracket 200 are formed such that the front regions are inclined upward. The width of each engagement member 290 decreases toward the front. The outer surfaces of each of the engaging pieces 290 disposed at both sides of the bracket 200 are disposed parallel to each other. A tip portion 290a is provided at the front end of each engaging piece 290. Each engaging member 290 is defined with a length such that, when coupled to the bracket coupling portion 70, each engaging member can be inserted into the engaging member receiving space 70d and slide while being in contact with an inner surface (top surface) of the engaging member receiving space 70d to be inserted. When the tray 200 is withdrawn, the tip portion 290a of each engaging piece 290 contacts and is inserted into the inner surface (top surface) of the upper surface portion 70b of the tray coupling part 70, thereby inhibiting the tray 200 from being withdrawn unintentionally. Here, since the engaging piece 290 is made of a metal member and the bracket coupling part 70 is made of a plastic member, the tip portion 290a of the engaging piece 290 can be easily penetrated (inserted) into the structure of the bracket coupling part 70 by a small external force. Therefore, the tray 200 can be suppressed from being unintentionally extracted (disconnected) from the tray coupling portion 70.

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating the cradle 200 of fig. 5, fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the sensing part 250 of fig. 8 taken along the line IX-IX, and fig. 10 is a side view illustrating the cradle 200 of fig. 5. As shown in fig. 8 to 10, the electric heater receiving part 230 is provided with a cut-off part 232 that is cut off backward. The cut-off portion 232 is provided at a position corresponding to a screw fastening portion 280 (to be described later). The cut-off portion 232 is cut off during the formation of the screw fastening portion 280. Accordingly, it may not be necessary to increase a separation width of the cut-off portion 217 from the electric heater receiving portion 230 (to be described later) to define the screw fastening portion 280, thereby reducing the width length of the base material of the bracket 200 by that amount. Therefore, the material consumption of the base material of the carriage 200 can be reduced.

A pair of engaging pieces 290 is respectively provided at both sides of the bracket 200 to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. One side of the engagement members 290 is provided with a cut-off portion 217 which is cut off to define each engagement member 290. One side of each engaging member 290 is provided with a bead 292 for reinforcement, respectively.

On the other hand, the inclined portion 270a has a reduced length compared to the base portion 210. The curved portion 270b has a reduced length compared to the inclined portion 270a. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 9, it is illustrated that the two side surface portions 250a of the sensing part 250 have different inclination angles (inclinations), but this is merely an example, and the two side surface portions 250a of the sensing part 250 may be configured to have the same slope as each other.

Referring again to fig. 8, the cut-off portion 215 is provided on the base portion 210 behind the electric heater receiving portion 230. The cut-off portion 215 has a length corresponding to that of the electric heater receiving portion 230. Accordingly, during the formation of the electric heater receiving part 230, the electric heater receiving part 230 may be separated from the base 210 to protrude upward. Further, the entire weight of the bracket 200 can be reduced by the cut-off portion 215. The screw fastening portion 280 is provided at the center of the cut-off portion 215.

In the present embodiment, it is illustrated that the electric heater receiving part 230 is disposed at the front side and the supporting part 270 is disposed at the rear side of the electric heater receiving part 230, but this is merely an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. However, it may be more preferable that the electric heater receiving part 230 is provided at the front side of the supporting part 270 than that the electric heater receiving part 230 is provided at the rear side of the supporting part 270 to reduce the width of the rectangular plate-shaped metal member (base material) for defining the bracket 200 and reduce the amount of material consumption. More specifically, a portion corresponding to the protruding length (Ls) of the screw fastening portion 280 (see fig. 7) may overlap with the rear end of the (cut-off portion 232) electric heater receiving portion 230 so as to reduce the width (W) of the base material of the bracket 200 by that amount, thereby significantly reducing the material consumption of the base material of the bracket 200.

Fig. 11 is a view for explaining a process of defining the sensing portion 250 of the cradle 200 in fig. 5. The sensing portion 250 may be defined, for example, by a machining process called drawing (stamping) using a metal mold to form a plate-shaped metal member. More specifically, the sensing part 250 is molded by the sensing part molding device 300 to perform plastic deformation of a preset shape by applying a predetermined compressive force to one region of the electric heater receiving part 230.

The sensing part molding device 300 may include, for example, a first mold (or die) 301 provided at an inner portion thereof with an inner molding surface 302 corresponding to an outer shape of the sensing part 250, and a second mold (or punch) 311 provided at an outer surface thereof with an outer molding surface 312 corresponding to an inner shape of the sensing part 250. A fixing portion (or guide) for fixing the upper surface portion 230b of the electric heater receiving portion 230 and guiding the second mold 311 to be inserted inwardly to be engaged with the first mold 301 is provided on the inner surface of the electric heater receiving portion 230.

With this configuration, as shown in (a) of fig. 11, the first mold 301 is disposed at an upper side of the electric heater receiving part 230, the fixing part 321 is disposed on an inner surface of the electric heater receiving part 230, and the electric heater receiving part 230 is firmly fixed and supported by the first mold 301 and the fixing part 321.

When the electric heater receiving part 230 is firmly supported, the second mold 311 is inserted into the fixing part 321 to press up the region of the electric heater receiving part 230 (the formation region of the sensing part 250). As shown in (b) of fig. 11, the region of the electric heater receiving part 230 is pressurized upward to define the sensing part 250 recessed from the inner side to protrude to the outer side. When the sensing portion 250 is defined, the second mold 311 returns to the initial position as shown in (c) of fig. 11.

With this configuration, when the bracket 200 is coupled to the bracket coupling part 70, the bracket 200 is disposed at the entrance of the bracket coupling part 70 such that the electric heater receiving part 230 faces the front side of the cabinet 10. When both side surface portions of the base 210 of the cradle 200 are inserted between the upper and lower support ribs 81 and 83, respectively, and the cradle 200 is pushed backward, the cradle 200 is inserted into the cradle coupling part 70 while sliding. Each engaging piece 290 of the bracket 200 slides in contact with the inner surface (top surface) of the upper surface portion 70b of the bracket coupling portion 70.

When the bracket 200 is continuously inserted, the screw fastening portion 280 of the bracket 200 contacts the bracket supporting portion 90 (the vertical surface 90 a) to stop the insertion of the bracket 200. At this time, the base 210 of the cradle 200 is placed on the upper surface of the horizontal surface 90b of the cradle support part 90 to be supported by the cradle support part 90. When the insertion of the bracket 200 is stopped, the screw 95 is inserted into the screw fastening portion 280 of the bracket 200 to allow the bracket 200 to be fixedly coupled to the bracket supporting portion 90.

Fig. 12 is a view illustrating a horizontal position at which the electric heater 110 is normally fitted into the cradle 200 in fig. 4, and fig. 13 is a view illustrating an inclined position at which the electric heater 110 is erroneously fitted at an upper side of the electric heater receiving part 230 of the cradle 200 in fig. 4, fig. 14 is a side view illustrating the electric heater 110 in fig. 13, and fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the electric heater 110 in fig. 13.

When the coupling of the bracket 200 is completed, the electric heater 110 is inserted into the outer tub 30 (the laundry collecting space 50) through the electric heater coupling part 55 while the electric heater 110 is horizontally disposed at the front side of the outer tub 30.

First, a case where the electric heater 110 is normally assembled will be described with reference to fig. 12.

When the electric heater 110 is inserted into the rear side of the washing water collecting space 50, the front end portion of the electric heater 110 is inserted into the electric heater receiving portion 230 of the bracket 200.

When the electric heater 110 is continuously inserted rearward, the front end portion of the electric heater 110 is moved upward along the inclined portion 270a, and the straight tube portion 120a of the electric heater 110 is placed at the upper end of the arc portion 270b to be disposed at a horizontal position. At this time, the operator cannot visually check whether the straight tube portion 120a is (or is not) supported by the arc portion 270b, but can easily recognize by horizontally disposing the support member 140 of the electric heater 110 outside the outer tub 30 (this case). The support member 140 is sealingly coupled to the electric heater coupling part 55.

On the other hand, a case where the electric heater 110 is erroneously assembled will be described with reference to fig. 13 to 15.

When the electric heater 110 is inserted into the rear side of the washing water collecting space 50, the operator is in a state in which it is difficult to visually check, and thus there may occur a case in which the front end portion of the electric heater 110 is inserted into the upper side of the electric heater receiving part 230 due to the inclination and/or twisting of the electric heater 110.

When the front end portion of the electric heater 110 is inserted into the upper side of the electric heater receiving part 230 instead of the inside of the electric heater receiving part 230, the right region of the electric heater 110 may be in contact with the bracket coupling part 70. The right region of the electric heater 110 is in contact with the bracket coupling part 70 and is inserted into the left region of the bracket coupling part 70. At this time, the left region of the electric heater 110 is moved upward to be in contact with the guide slope 252 of the sensing portion 250, and the straight tube portion 120a of the electric heater 110 is disposed at an inclined position inclined with respect to the horizontal line as shown in fig. 13.

Accordingly, the support member 140 of the electric heater 110 is disposed at an inclined position inclined to define a preset inclination angle (θ) with respect to a horizontal line (as shown in fig. 15). Since the support member 140 is disposed at an inclined position inclined with respect to the horizontal line, the operator can visually check and recognize that (whether or not) the electric heater 110 is in a misassembled state.

Further, as shown in fig. 14, when the straight tube portion 120a at the left side of the electric heater 110 is supported by the sensing portion 250, the front end portion of the electric heater 110 may be inclined upward at an inclination angle (θ 1) with respect to the horizontal line and contacted with the drum 35 at the upper side thereof, thereby allowing the operator to easily sense (or recognize) a mis-assembled state of the electric heater 110.

In the foregoing, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described herein with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various embodiments without departing from the concept or gist of the present disclosure, and therefore, the foregoing embodiments should not be limited to what is described in detail.

Furthermore, the foregoing embodiments should be construed broadly within the scope of the technical concept defined by the appended claims, even if they are not specifically disclosed in the detailed description herein. Also, all changes and modifications within the technical scope of the claims and the equivalent scope thereof should be construed as being included in the appended claims.

Claims (19)

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an outer tub disposed inside the cabinet;

a drum disposed inside the tub;

an electric heater coupled to a bottom portion of the outer tub to heat wash water inside the outer tub; and

a bracket provided at the outer tub to support the electric heater to be spaced apart from the bottom part,

wherein the bracket includes: an electric heater receiving portion in which the electric heater is received; and a sensing part protruding upward at one side of an upper portion of the electric heater receiving part to sense an erroneous assembly of the electric heater,

wherein the sensing part protrudes upward at a point shifted from a center of the electric heater receiving part to one side by a preset distance,

wherein, between both side surface portions of the sensing part, a side surface of the sensing part near a center in a left-right direction of the bracket is provided with a guide slope inclined downward toward the center, and

wherein the guide slope has a triangular shape.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing part is recessed from an inner side of the electric heater receiving part to protrude to an outside thereof.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing portion is configured to decrease in width toward an upper side.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of the guide slope decreases in a protruding direction.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the sensing part is inclined downward in a backward direction and connected to an upper surface portion of the electric heater receiving part.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes: a base; and a support portion spaced upward from the base portion to support the electric heater from below.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the supporting part is provided in a rear region of the electric heater receiving part.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the supporting portion includes an inclined portion inclined upward from the base portion in a rearward direction.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supporting portion further includes an arc-shaped portion having a curved sectional shape at an upper end of the inclined portion.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the arc portion is disposed parallel to the base.

11. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a screw fastening portion bent downward is provided at a center of the supporting portion.

12. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the screw fastening portion is provided at a center of the supporting portion, and

cut-off portions defined by cutting off the base portion are provided at a front side of the support portion, and the cut-off portions are provided at both sides of the screw fastening portion, respectively.

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a washing water collecting space is provided at a bottom portion of the outer tub to collect washing water, and

the washing water collecting space is provided with a bracket coupling portion coupled to the bracket.

14. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the tray coupling portions are spaced apart from each other such that both side surface portions of the tray are inserted with a predetermined width, respectively.

15. The laundry treating device according to claim 13, wherein the tray coupling part is provided with an upper support rib and a lower support rib which support the tray when the upper side and the lower side of the tray are in contact with the tray, respectively.

16. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the tray is provided with a joint caught by the tray coupling portion after the tray is inserted into the tray coupling portion to inhibit separation.

17. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the engaging piece is inclined upward toward a front portion of the bracket.

18. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the bracket coupling portion is made of a plastic member.

19. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the bracket is made of a metal member, and the sensing portion is plastically deformed by applying a preset compression force so as to protrude the electric heater receiving portion.

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