Door assembly and a washing machine and a dryer using the same

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved door assembly and a washing machine and a dryer having the same applied thereto. The door assembly of the present invention includes a hinge assembly ( 150 ), a door body ( 200 ), a hook assembly ( 300 ), a lock assembly ( 400 ). Since, in the present invention, the hand hold formed in the door body ( 200 ) is recessed in an inner circumferential surface of the frame ( 210 ) so as not to be visible from an exterior, an outer appearance of the appliance is improved. Of components of the hook assembly ( 300 ), since the bracket ( 320 ) having a shaft ( 340 ) with a hook ( 310 ) inserted therein is formed as a unit with the bracket ( 320 ) on an inside thereof, with a reduced number of the hook assembly smaller than the related art, an assembly process can be simplified and productivity is improved. The lock assembly ( 400 ) provided to the cabinet ( 100 ) to hold the hook ( 310 ) includes a hook holding device and a locking device. The hook holding device holds the hook ( 310 ) by using an elastic force of the hook ( 310 ) when the hook ( 310 ) is inserted therein, and release the hook ( 310 ) when the hook ( 310 ) is drawn. The locking device, operative in response to an external electric signal, maintains the held state of the hook ( 310 ), for preventing the body ( 200 ) from being forcibly opened by an external force, thereby preventing occurrence of fault and accident caused by negligence of safety.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A door assembly comprising: 
 a hinge assembly provided to a region in the vicinity of an introduction opening in a cabinet;    a door body connected to the hinge assembly for opening/closing the introduction opening;    a hook assembly including a hook projected from the door body in a state the hook has an elastic force within a predetermined gap, the hook having a fore end with a head projected from one side and a stopper projected from the other side; and    a lock assembly including 
 a hook holding device provided to the other region of the cabinet for holding the hook by using the elastic force of the hook when the head is inserted therein, and releasing the hook when the head is drawn to an exterior, and  
 a locking device operative in response to an external electric signal for maintaining the hold on the hook by using the stopper when the head is drawn from the exterior.  
   
     
     
         2 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the door body includes a transparent door glass, and a frame in a form of a loop having the door glass fixed to an inner circumferential surface thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the frame includes an inner frame and an outer frame joined from both sides of the door glass, at least one of the inner frame and the outer frame being connected to the hinge assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , the outer frame further includes a hand hold.  
     
     
         5 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the hand hold includes a recess in an inner circumferential surface of the outer frame for putting a hand therein from an exterior and pulling the hand hold.  
     
     
         6 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold further includes a finger recess recessed in an inside of the hand hold for inserting finger ends and held therein when a user puts a hand therein.  
     
     
         7 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold has a surface in a form of a curved surface for being brought into in contact with a palm when the user puts a user's hand therein and pulls the hand hold.  
     
     
         8 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the curved surface has a curvature in conformity with a curved surface formed when the palm is bent by half, substantially.  
     
     
         9 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold includes a recess in a part of the inner circumferential surface of the outer frame itself.  
     
     
         10 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold includes 
 a hand hold hole formed in one region of the inner circumferential surface of the outer frame, and    a hand hold holder inserted and fixed in the inserting hole.    
     
     
         11 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold includes a plurality of projections projected from a recessed inside surface of the hand hold.  
     
     
         12 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold includes a sloped inner circumferential surface on the outer frame in the vicinity of the hand hold for easy recognizing of the region the hand hold is formed therein from exterior.  
     
     
         13 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold includes a position indicating mark on the outer frame in the vicinity of the hand hold for easy recognizing of the region the hand hold is formed therein from exterior.  
     
     
         14 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold includes a part of the outer frame in the vicinity of the hand hold colored in a color different from other part for easy recognizing of the region the hand hold is formed therein from exterior.  
     
     
         15 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the hand hold includes a part of the outer frame in the vicinity of the hand hold formed of a transparent material for easy recognizing of the region the hand hold is formed therein from exterior.  
     
     
         16 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly includes 
 one pair of brackets projected toward an inner space of the door body,    a shaft having both ends fixed to end parts of the brackets,    the hook having an opposite end of the head connected to a middle of the shaft and provided such that the hook passes through a hook hole formed in a door body, and    a spring for providing an elastic force to the hook when the hook rotates centered on the shaft within a predetermined gap.    
     
     
         17 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the bracket is formed as one unit with the door body.  
     
     
         18 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the spring is provided such that the hook has a force moving in a direction of the projected one side of the head.  
     
     
         19 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring having a part held at the hook or a part moving with the hook, and the other part held at a spring stopper projected from the door body.  
     
     
         20 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the stopper is formed in a middle of the one pair of brackets.  
     
     
         21 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hook holding device includes 
 a locking body fixed to an inside surface of the cabinet having a second inserting hole opposite to the first inserting hole formed in the cabinet for inserting the head of the hook therein, and    a slider slidably, and elastically provided on one side of the locking body, the slider having a third inserting hole formed therein opposite to the first and second inserting holes, a contact plate and a head stopper at both sides of the third inserting hole in a direction of the projected one side and the stopper on the head respectively.    
     
     
         22 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the slider has an elastic force smaller than the elastic force of the hook.  
     
     
         23 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the slider is provided with the elastic force from a compression or tension spring having one end connected to the slider and the other end connected to the locking body.  
     
     
         24 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the compression or tension spring is provided such that the slider has a restoration force when the slide is moved to one side as the head is inserted through the first, second and third inserting holes.  
     
     
         25 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the contact plate is provided disposed such that the contact plate comes into contact with the projected one side of the head when the head is inserted into the third inserting hole.  
     
     
         26 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the head stopper is formed disposed such that the head stopper is space a distance from the stopper when the head is inserted through the third inserting hole, fully.  
     
     
         27 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the head stopper includes a top end having a height lower than a height of the stopper on the hook.  
     
     
         28 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the head stopper is formed disposed such that the stopper is caught, and held at the top end thereof as the head moves in an oblique direction owing to the projected one side of the head, when the head is drawn from the third inserting hole in a state the slider is held.  
     
     
         29 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the second inserting hole has a sloped contact surface to be in contact with the projected one side of the head so that the head is inserted and drawn in the oblique direction.  
     
     
         30 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the contact surface has a slope substantially similar to the slope of the projected one side of the head.  
     
     
         31 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the hook holding device further includes aligning means for holding a position of the slider for aligning the second and the third holes when the head is not inserted yet.  
     
     
         32 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the aligning means includes 
 a plurality of dents in both sides of the slider in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the slider, and    a plurality of latches elastically and slidably provided to the locking body each having a tooth formed at a region thereof for inserting in the dent and a fore end positioned on the third inserting hole.    
     
     
         33 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the latch is provided such that, when the head enters into the third inserting hole, the fore end comes into contact with the fore end of the head, and is pushed backward causing the tooth to come off the dent.  
     
     
         34 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the locking device includes 
 a locking switch having a locking rod to be projected from the locking body in response to the external electric signal, and    catch means formed on the slider for being caught at the locking rod at projection of the locking rod for limiting movement of the slider.    
     
     
         35 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the catch means is formed at a position the catch means is caught at the locking rod when the locking rod is projected to a position the slider move to one side fully as the head is inserted in the third inserting hole fully.  
     
     
         36 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the catch means is a projected step projected to form a step from one side of the slider.  
     
     
         37 . The door assembly as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the catch means is a pass through hole in the slider for inserting the locking rod when the locking rod is projected.  
     
     
         38 . A washing machine and dryer comprising: 
 a cabinet having an introduction hole in a front part thereof;    a drum rotatably provided to an inside of the cabinet;    a motor for rotating the drum;    a hinge assembly provided to a region in the vicinity of an introduction opening in a cabinet;    a door body connected to the hinge assembly for opening/closing the introduction opening;    a hook assembly including a hook projected from the door body in a state the hook has an elastic force within a predetermined gap, the hook having a fore end with a head projected from one side and a stopper projected from the other side; and    a lock assembly including 
 a hook holding device provided to the other region of the cabinet for holding the hook by using the elastic force of the hook when the head is inserted therein, and releasing the hook when the head is drawn to an exterior, and  
 a locking device operative in response to an external electric signal for maintaining the hold on the hook by using the stopper when the head is drawn from the exterior.  
   
     
     
         39 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the door body includes a transparent door glass, and a frame in a form of a loop having the door glass fixed to an inner circumferential surface thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the frame includes an inner frame and an outer frame joined from both sides of the door glass, at least one of the inner frame and the outer frame being connected to the hinge assembly.  
     
     
         41 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 40 , the outer frame further includes a hand hold.  
     
     
         42 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the hand hold includes a recess in an inner circumferential surface of the outer frame for putting a hand therein from an exterior and pulling the hand hold.  
     
     
         43 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the hook assembly includes 
 one pair of brackets projected toward an inner space of the door body,    a shaft having both ends fixed to end parts of the brackets,    the hook having an opposite end of the head connected to a middle of the shaft and provided such that the hook passes through a hook hole formed in a door body, and    a spring for providing an elastic force to the hook when the hook rotates centered on the shaft within a predetermined gap.    
     
     
         44 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the bracket is formed as one unit with the door body.  
     
     
         45 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the hook holding device includes 
 a locking body fixed to an inside surface of the cabinet having a second inserting hole opposite to the first inserting hole formed in the cabinet for inserting the head of the hook therein, and    a slider slidably, and elastically provided on one side of the locking body, the slider having a third inserting hole formed therein opposite to the first and second inserting holes, a contact plate and a head stopper at both sides of the third inserting hole in a direction of the projected one side and the stopper on the head respectively.    
     
     
         46 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the slider has an elastic force smaller than the elastic force of the hook.  
     
     
         47 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the second inserting hole has a sloped contact surface to be in contact with the projected one side of the head so that the head is inserted and drawn in the oblique direction.  
     
     
         48 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the hook holding device further includes aligning means for holding a position of the slider for aligning the second and the third holes when the head is not inserted yet.  
     
     
         49 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the aligning means includes 
 a plurality of dents in both sides of the slider in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the slider, and    a plurality of latches elastically and slidably provided to the locking body each having a tooth formed at a region thereof for inserting in the dent and a fore end positioned on the third inserting hole.    
     
     
         50 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the locking device includes 
 a locking switch having a locking rod to be projected from the locking body in response to the external electric signal, and    catch means formed on the slider for being caught at the locking rod at projection of the locking rod for limiting movement of the slider.    
     
     
         51 . The washing machine and dryer as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the catch means is formed at a position the catch means is caught at the locking rod when the locking rod is projected to a position the slider move to one side fully as the head is inserted in the third inserting hole fully.