Damper for washing machine

Abstract

Disclosed is a damper for a washing machine including a cylinder, a rod of which one end is inserted in the cylinder, a sliding rod integrally formed on a proximal end of the rod, a damping part disposed around the sliding rod to perform a damping operation, the damping part having a coupling part contracting/expanding in a radial direction, a seating portion formed on the sliding rode, the coupling part being selectively located on the seating portion, and a magnet formed on the coupling part.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A damper for a washing machine, comprising: 
 a cylinder;    a rod of which one end is inserted in the cylinder;    a sliding rod integrally formed on a proximal end of the rod;    a damping part disposed around the sliding rod to perform a damping operation, the damping part comprising a coupling part contracting/expanding in a radial direction;    a seating portion formed on the sliding rode, the coupling part being selectively located on the seating portion; and    a magnet formed on the coupling part.    
     
     
         2 . The damper according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second springs respectively disposed on both sides of the damping part.  
     
     
         3 . The damper according to  claim 1 , wherein the damping part further comprises: 
 a hollow external part in which the coupling part is disposed; and    a damping pad formed on an outer circumference of the hollow external part, the damping pad contacting the cylinder to create frictional force.    
     
     
         4 . The damper according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling part is formed in a semicircular shape.  
     
     
         5 . The damper according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling part comprises two sections disposed to be symmetrical to each other, the two sections being connected by an elastic member.  
     
     
         6 . The damper according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is formed on an inside of the seating portion.  
     
     
         7 . The damper according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is an electromagnet.  
     
     
         8 . The damper of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises a coil wound around the coupling part functioning as a core.  
     
     
         9 . The damper according to  claim 1 , wherein the rod is integrally formed with the sliding rod.  
     
     
         10 . A damper for a washing machine, comprising: 
 a cylinder;    a rod of which one end is inserted in the cylinder;    a sliding rod integrally formed on a proximal end of the rod;    a hollow external part having a relatively large inner diameter;    a coupling part defined by a magnet inserted in the hollow external part, the coupling part being coupled on the sliding rod when magnetic force is formed; and    a damping pad formed on an outer circumference of the hollow external part, the damping pad frictionally contacting an inner circumference to perform a damping operation.    
     
     
         11 . The damper according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupling part is selectively inserted in a groove formed on the sliding rod.  
     
     
         12 . The damper according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupling part comprises two sections that are symmetrically disposed.  
     
     
         13 . The damper according to  claim 10 , wherein the magnet is an electromagnet that is magnetized by an external electric force.  
     
     
         14 . A damper for a washing machine, comprising: 
 a cylinder;    a rod of which one end is inserted in the cylinder;    a sliding rod integrally formed on a proximal end of the rod;    an electromagnet inserted in the sliding rod; and    a damping part disposed on an outer circumference of the sliding rod, the damping part being fixed on the sliding rode when the electromagnet is magnetized.    
     
     
         15 . The damper according to  claim 14 , further comprising a damping pad formed on an outer circumference of the damping part, the damping pad contacting an outer circumference of the cylinder.  
     
     
         16 . The damper according to  claim 14 , wherein a diameter of the sliding rod is smaller than a diameter of the rod.  
     
     
         17 . The damper according to  claim 14 , further comprising a spring formed on at least one side of the damping part to support the damping part.  
     
     
         18 . A damper for a washing machine, comprising: 
 a cylinder;    a rod of which one end is inserted in the cylinder;    a damping part contacting the cylinder to perform a damping operation; and    a coupling part formed in the cylinder to be selectively fixed on the rod.    
     
     
         19 . The damper according to  claim 18 , further comprising a damping pad formed on an outer circumference of the damping part.  
     
     
         20 . The damper according to  claim 18 , wherein the coupling part is formed of a magnetic material to move by magnetic force of the magnet.  
     
     
         21 . The damper according to  claim 18 , wherein the coupling part comprises a plurality of sections, at least one of which is an electromagnet.  
     
     
         22 . The damper according to  claim 18 , wherein the coupling part is formed of a magnetic material, comprising a magnet disposed on a predetermined location of the rod.