Washing machine

Abstract

Washing machine including a housing ( 10 ), an outer tub ( 20 ) mounted in the housing ( 10 ) for storage of washing water, and a heater assembly ( 100 ) having a heater ( 120 ) designed to be detachably inserted to an inside of the outer tub from an outside of the outer tub for heating the washing water, thereby permitting easy attachment/detachment of the heater.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a housing;    an outer tub mounted in the housing for storage of washing water; and    a heater assembly having a heater designed to be detachably inserted to an inside of the outer tub from an outside of the outer tub for heating the washing water.    
     
     
         2 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heater assembly includes; 
 a cavity formed in a bottom surface of the outer tub, and    the heater disposed in an inside of the cavity through a side wall of the cavity.    
     
     
         3 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the heater assembly includes an opening formed in the side wall of the cavity for permitting pass of the heater.  
     
     
         4 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cavity is formed in a periphery of a bottom surface of the outer tub.  
     
     
         5 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the cavity extends perpendicular to a radial direction of the outer tub.  
     
     
         6 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cavity includes a sloped bottom surface.  
     
     
         7 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the slope has an angle of 3°˜5°.  
     
     
         8 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the cavity includes a drain hole formed in a low part of the sloped bottom surface for draining the washing water to an outside of the washing machine.  
     
     
         9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the heater is inserted from a lower part to a higher part of the sloped bottom surface.  
     
     
         10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the heater includes; 
 a heating part in the cavity for generating heat, and    a terminal part electrically connected to the heating part for applying power to the heating part.    
     
     
         11 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the heating part includes a plurality of bends on the same plane.  
     
     
         12 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the heater further includes a closing part for closing the cavity.  
     
     
         13 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the closing part includes; 
 a finish member between the heating part and the terminal part for closing the cavity from outside of the cavity, and    an elastic member between the heating part and the finish plate for being press fit into the opening of the cavity.    
     
     
         14 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the closing part further includes a pressure applying mechanism for expanding the elastic member.  
     
     
         15 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the pressure applying mechanism includes; 
 a pressure applying plate being disposed to contact with elastic member,    a screw connected to the pressure applying plate and projected through the elastic member and the finish member, and    a nut on the screw for fastening the pressure applying plate so that the pressure applying plate applies pressure to the elastic member.    
     
     
         16 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the heater assembly includes; 
 bosses on the bottom surface of the cavity, and    a bracket fastened to the bosses for supporting the heater to be spaced with a distance away from the bottom surface.    
     
     
         17 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the bosses and the bracket are fastened with an insulating material inserted therebetween for prevention of heat transmission from the heater to the bosses.  
     
     
         18 . A heater assembly in a washing machine comprising: 
 a cavity formed in a bottom surface of an outer tub of the washing machine, the outer tub storing washing water; and    a heater disposable to an inside of the cavity through a side wall of the cavity,    wherein the heater heats the washing water, and is designed to be detachably inserted into an inside of the outer tub from an outside of the outer tub.    
     
     
         19 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising an opening formed in the side wall of the cavity for permitting pass of the heater.  
     
     
         20 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the cavity is formed in a periphery of a bottom surface of the outer tub.  
     
     
         21 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the cavity extends perpendicular to a radial direction of the outer tub.  
     
     
         22 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the cavity includes a sloped bottom surface.  
     
     
         23 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the slope has an angle of 3°˜5°.  
     
     
         24 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the cavity includes a drain hole formed in a low part of the sloped bottom surface for draining the washing water to an outside of the washing machine.  
     
     
         25 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the heater is inserted from a lower part to a higher part of the sloped bottom surface.  
     
     
         26 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the heater includes; 
 a heating part in the cavity for generating heat, and    a terminal part electrically connected to the heating part for applying power to the heating part.    
     
     
         27 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the heating part includes a plurality of bends on the same plane.  
     
     
         28 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the heater includes a closing part for closing the cavity.  
     
     
         29 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the closing part includes; 
 a finish member between the heating part and the terminal part for closing the cavity from outside of the cavity, and    an elastic member between the heating part and the finish plate for being press fit into the opening of the cavity.    
     
     
         30 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the closing part further includes a pressure applying mechanism for expanding the elastic member.  
     
     
         31 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the pressure applying mechanism includes; 
 a pressure applying plate being disposed to contact with the elastic member,    a screw connected to the pressure applying plate and projected through the elastic member and the finish member, and    a nut on the screw for fastening the pressure applying plate so that the pressure applying plate applies pressure to the elastic member.    
     
     
         32 . The heater assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising; 
 bosses on the bottom surface of the cavity, and    a bracket fastened to the bosses for supporting the heater to be spaced with a distance away from the bottom surface.    
     
     
         33 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the bosses and the bracket are fastened with an insulating material inserted therebetween for prevention of heat transmission from the heater to the bosses.