Washing machine with reduced vibration

Abstract

Washing machine including a cabinet forming an outside shape of the washing machine, legs fitted to a bottom of the cabinet for supporting the cabinet, and leg pads joined to an underside of the legs respectively for attenuating vibration taken place when the washing machine is operated, wherein the leg pad is formed of block copolymer of hard blocks and soft blocks, thereby attenuating vibration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a cabinet forming an outside shape of the washing machine;    legs fitted to a bottom of the cabinet for supporting the cabinet; and    leg pads joined to an underside of the legs respectively for attenuating vibration taken place when the washing machine is operated,    wherein the leg pad is formed of block copolymer of hard blocks and soft blocks.    
     
     
         2 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the leg pad includes; 
 a first member in contact with a floor having the washing machine installed thereon, and    a second member in contact with the first member,    wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is the block copolymer of hard blocks and soft blocks.    
     
     
         3 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the hard block is a material which meets required mechanical properties, and the soft block is a material which meets vibration attenuation characteristic.  
     
     
         4 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the soft block has a glass transition temperature of room temperature.  
     
     
         5 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the glass transition temperature is −30° C.˜30° C.  
     
     
         6 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the leg pad of the washing machine installed on a slippery floor has Shore hardness of approx. 80.  
     
     
         7 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the leg pad of the washing machine installed on a non-slippery floor has Shore hardness of approx. 30.  
     
     
         8 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the hard block is polystyrene, and the soft block is polyisoprene.  
     
     
         9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the soft block is vinyl-polyisoprene.  
     
     
         10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the block copolymer is blended with at least one selected from olefin based thermo plastic resin, ethylene-α olefin copolymer, ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer, ethylene-ethylacrylrate copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer.  
     
     
         11 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the leg and the leg pad are bonded with an adhesive.  
     
     
         12 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the leg and the leg pad are joined by insert molding.  
     
     
         13 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the leg and the leg pad are joined by elastic hook.  
     
     
         14 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first member has at least one projection passed through the second member.  
     
     
         15 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second member has a third member in contact therewith, of a material the same with the first member.  
     
     
         16 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a cabinet forming an outside shape of the washing machine;    a tub in the cabinet for holding washing water;    a drum rotatably mounted in the tub;    dampers fitted between a base of the cabinet and the tub for reducing transmission of vibration from the drum,    wherein the damper is coupled to the cabinet, with a first damping member in contact with the damper, and a second damping member in contact with the first damping member placed inbetween, and at least one of the first damping member, and the second damping member is block copolymer of hard blocks and soft blocks.    
     
     
         17 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the second damping member has a third damping member in contact therewith, of a material the same with the first damping member.  
     
     
         18 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the hard block is a material which meets required mechanical properties, and the soft block is a material which meets vibration attenuation characteristic.  
     
     
         19 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the soft block has a glass transition temperature of room temperature.  
     
     
         20 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the glass transition temperature is −30° C.˜30° C.  
     
     
         21 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the hard block is polystyrene, and the soft block is polyisoprene.  
     
     
         22 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the soft block is vinyl-polyisoprene.  
     
     
         23 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the block copolymer is blended with at least one selected from olefin based thermo plastic resin, ethylene-a olefin copolymer, ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer, ethylene-ethylacrylrate copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer.