Filter cover assembly of washing machine

Abstract

Disclosed is a filter assembly of a washing machine which opens/closes a filter hole provided in a cabinet to replace a filter. The present invention includes a cover fitted to a filter hole provided at a cabinet of the washing machine for loading/unloading a filter, three protrusions extending downward from left, right, and central sides of a lower end of the cover to be inserted in holes at left, right, and central portions of a lower side of a filter case provided in the cabinet, respectively to communicate with the filter hole, and three hooks protruding from left, right, and central sides of an upper end of the cover toward the filter case to be inserted in hook holes at left, right, and central portions of an upper side of the filter case, respectively.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A filter cover assembly of a washing machine, comprising: 
 a cover fitted to a filter hole provided at a cabinet of the washing machine for loading/unloading a filter;    three protrusions extending downward from left, right, and central sides of a lower end of the cover to be inserted in holes at left, right, and central portions of a lower side of a filter case provided in the cabinet, respectively to communicate with the filter hole; and    three hooks protruding from left, right, and central sides of an upper end of the cover toward the filter case to be inserted in hook holes at left, right, and central portions of an upper side of the filter case, respectively.    
     
     
         2 . The filter cover assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the protrusions comprises: 
 at least one slit provided along a length direction of the corresponding protrusion to elastically deform both lateral sides of the corresponding protrusion inward and outward; and    a barb protruding outward from lower ends of both of the lateral sides of the corresponding protrusion to prevent the corresponding protrusion having inserted in the hole from being separated from the hole.    
     
     
         3 . The filter cover assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the hooks comprises: 
 an extension part protruding from an upper end of the cover toward the filter case;    an elastic part bent from an end of the extension part toward the cover to have elasticity upward and downward; and    a barb protruding from an upper surface of the elastic part to be inserted in the corresponding hook hole.    
     
     
         4 . The filter cover assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of the hooks further comprises a push piece extending from the elastic part to facilitate a user to push.  
     
     
         5 . A filter assembly of a washing machine, comprising: 
 a filter hole at one side of a cabinet of the washing machine;    a filter case in the cabinet to have a front side communicate with the filter hole and to communicate with a tub and a drain hose of the washing machine;    a filter loaded in the filter case to filter particles in water flowing in the filter case; and    a filter cover assembly comprising: 
 a cover fitted to a filter hole provided at a cabinet of the washing machine for loading/unloading a filter;  
 three protrusions extending downward from left, right, and central sides of a lower end of the cover to be inserted in holes at left, right, and central portions of a lower side of a filter case provided in the cabinet, respectively to communicate with the filter hole; and  
 three hooks protruding from left, right, and central sides of an upper end of the cover toward the filter case to be inserted in hook holes at left, right, and central portions of an upper side of the filter case, respectively.  
   
     
     
         6 . The filter assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the protrusions comprises: 
 at least one slit provided along a length direction of the corresponding protrusion to elastically deform both lateral sides of the corresponding protrusion inward and outward; and    a barb protruding outward from lower ends of both of the lateral sides of the corresponding protrusion to prevent the corresponding protrusion having inserted in the hole from being separated from the hole.    
     
     
         7 . The filter assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each of the hooks comprises: 
 an extension part protruding from an upper end of the cover toward the filter case;    an elastic part bent from an end of the extension part toward the cover to have elasticity upward and downward; and    a barb protruding from an upper surface of the elastic part to be inserted in the corresponding hook hole.    
     
     
         8 . The filter assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each of the hooks further comprises a push piece extending from the elastic part to facilitate a user to push.  
     
     
         9 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a cabinet having a filter hole at one side;    a tub in the cabinet;    a drum rotatably provided in the tub;    a filter case in the cabinet to have a front side communicate with the filter hole and to communicate with a tub and a drain hose of the washing machine;    a filter loaded in the filter case to filter particles in water flowing in the filter case; and    a filter cover assembly comprising: 
 a cover fitted to a filter hole provided at a cabinet of the washing machine for loading/unloading a filter;  
 three protrusions extending downward from left, right, and central sides of a lower end of the cover to be inserted in holes at left, right, and central portions of a lower side of a filter case provided in the cabinet, respectively to communicate with the filter hole; and  
 three hooks protruding from left, right, and central sides of an upper end of the cover toward the filter case to be inserted in hook holes at left, right, and central portions of an upper side of the filter case, respectively.  
   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the protrusions comprises: 
 at least one slit provided along a length direction of the corresponding protrusion to elastically deform both lateral sides of the corresponding protrusion inward and outward; and    a barb protruding outward from lower ends of both of the lateral sides of the corresponding protrusion to prevent the corresponding protrusion having inserted in the hole from being separated from the hole.    
     
     
         11 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of the hooks comprises: 
 an extension part protruding from an upper end of the cover toward the filter case;    an elastic part bent from an end of the extension part toward the cover to have elasticity upward and downward; and    a barb protruding from an upper surface of the elastic part to be inserted in the corresponding hook hole.    
     
     
         12 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of the hooks further comprises a push piece extending from the elastic part to facilitate a user to push.