Cabinet structure of home appliance

Abstract

A cabinet structure of a home appliance, which can increase a structural strength of the cabinet and can facilitate cabinet assembly, is disclosed. The cabinet structure includes a flange of a predetermined width, forming a front surface of a cabinet, a panel frame piece for reinforcing a structural strength of the cabinet by being coupled to the flange, the panel frame piece having a rear surface opposing the front surface of the flange, and at least one hook assembly for maintaining a coupling position of the panel frame piece with respect to the flange.

1 . A cabinet structure of a home appliance, comprising: 
 a flange of a predetermined width, forming a front surface of a cabinet;    a panel frame piece for reinforcing a structural strength of the cabinet by being coupled to the flange, the panel frame piece having a rear surface opposing the front surface of the flange; and    at least one hook assembly for maintaining a coupling position of the panel frame piece with respect to the flange.    
   
   
       2 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hook assembly comprises at least one hook, formed on one of the front surface of the flange and the rear surface of the flange, for being inserted into at least one fixing hole formed in the other surface in opposition to the at least one hook.  
   
   
       3 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one hook comprises: 
 a support protruding from the one surface; and    a retainer, extending from one end of the support, for being caught in the at least one fixing hole.    
   
   
       4 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein an interval between the retainer and the one surface is nearly equal to a thickness of the flange at the fixing hole.  
   
   
       5 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the retainer is integrally formed with the support.  
   
   
       6 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flange has at least one coupling hole for receiving a coupling member and the panel frame piece has at least one through hole though which the coupling member passes.  
   
   
       7 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, when the coupling position of the flange and the panel frame piece is maintained using the hook assembly, the at least one coupling hole is aligned with the at least one through hole.  
   
   
       8 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control panel mounted on the panel frame piece.  
   
   
       9 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the panel frame piece connects the side panels at an upper point.  
   
   
       10 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined width of the flange is greater at the upper point of the side panels.  
   
   
       11 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the retainer extends downward from the support, the at least one hook is formed on the rear surface of the panel frame piece, and the at least one fixing hole is formed in the flange.  
   
   
       12 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the retainer extends upward from the support, the at least one hook is formed on the flange, and the at least one fixing hole is formed in the rear surface of the panel frame piece.  
   
   
       13 . The cabinet structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the home appliance is a dryer.  
   
   
       14 . A dryer, comprising: 
 a flange of a predetermined width, forming a front surface of a cabinet;    a panel frame piece for reinforcing a structural strength of the cabinet by being coupled to the flange, the panel frame piece having a rear surface opposing the front surface of the flange;    at least one hook, formed on the rear surface of the panel frame piece, for being inserted into at least one fixing hole formed in the flange in opposition to the at least one hook, to maintain a coupling position of the panel frame piece with respect to the flange; and    a control panel mounted on the panel frame piece.    
   
   
       15 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the hook comprises: 
 a support protruding from the rear surface of the panel frame piece; and    a retainer, extending downward from one end of the support, for being caught in the at least one fixing hole.    
   
   
       16 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein an interval between the retainer and the rear surface of the panel frame piece is nearly equal to a thickness of the flange at the fixing hole.  
   
   
       17 . A dryer, comprising: 
 a flange of a predetermined width, forming a front surface of a cabinet;    a panel frame piece for reinforcing a structural strength of the cabinet by being coupled to the flange, the panel frame piece having a rear surface opposing the front surface of the flange;    at least one hook, formed on the front surface of the flange, for being inserted into at least one fixing hole formed in the panel frame piece in opposition to the at least one hook, to maintain a coupling position of the panel frame piece with respect to the flange; and    a control panel mounted on the panel frame piece.    
   
   
       18 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the hook comprises: 
 a support protruding from the front surface of the flange; and    a retainer, extending upward from one end of the support, for being caught in the at least one fixing hole.    
   
   
       19 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein an interval between the retainer and the front surface of the flange is nearly equal to a thickness of the panel frame piece at the fixing hole.