Washing apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing apparatus in which the top of a base pan is inclined downward toward a mounting position of a water leakage sensor, so that water, dropped onto the base pan, is gathered toward the water leakage sensor regardless of a water drop position, thereby enabling prompt operation of the water leakage sensor and achieving an enhancement in reliability. Furthermore, the washing apparatus comprises holders by which the water leakage sensor is vertically caught after being vertically press fitted to the base pan, thereby enabling the water leakage sensor to be mounted to the base pan via a single vertical press-fitting operation, resulting in an enhancement in assembling efficiency.

1 . A washing apparatus comprising: 
 a cabinet body forming the outer appearance of the washing apparatus;    a base pan mounted to a lower end of the cabinet body; and    a water leakage sensor mounted on the top of the base pan and adapted to sense the leakage of water from a certain interior location of the cabinet body onto the base pan,    wherein the top of the base pan is inclined downward toward a mounting position of the water leakage sensor.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the water leakage sensor is mounted at the center of the base pan, and the base pan is inclined downward toward the center thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base pan has pan drainage holes, which are arranged on at least one side of the periphery thereof to drain water gathered in the base pan to the outside.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the base pan has upwardly protruding ribs formed along the periphery thereof, and the pan drainage holes are formed at one of the ribs formed at a rear side of the base pan.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the cabinet body has cabinet drainage holes formed at positions corresponding to the pan drainage holes.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of hooks upwardly protruding from the top of the base pan, the hooks serving to guide the water leakage sensor into a predetermined assembling position and to allow the water leakage sensor to be caught after being press fitted.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 guide protrusions laterally protruding from opposite outer lateral surfaces of the water leakage sensor; and    guide ribs provided at the top of the base pan and having guide grooves for the insertion of the respective guide protrusions.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base pan serves as a base pan forming the bottom of a washing machine.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base pan serves as a base pan forming the bottom of a drying machine.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base pan serves as a base pan forming the bottom of a combined washing and drying machine.  
     
     
         11 . A washing apparatus comprising: 
 a cabinet body;    a base pan mounted to a lower end of the cabinet body;    a water leakage sensor to sense the leakage of water onto the base pan; and    holders to allow the water leakage sensor to be vertically caught after being vertically press fitted to the base pan.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the holders are hooks, which protrude upward from the top of the base pan and serve to guide the water leakage sensor into a predetermined assembling position and to allow the water leakage sensor to be caught after being press fitted.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein spacers protrude from one of the bottom of the water leakage sensor, the top of the base pan, and hooks to space the water leakage sensor apart from the top of the base pan.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the spacers are protrusions, which protrude from lower ends of the hooks toward the water leakage sensor.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the top of the base pan is inclined downward toward a mounting position of the water leakage sensor.  
     
     
         16 . A washing apparatus comprising: 
 a cabinet body;    a base pan mounted to a lower end of the cabinet body;    a water leakage sensor to sense the leakage of water onto the base pan; and    couplers to allow the water leakage sensor to be coupled to the base pan while sliding on the top of the base pan.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the couplers include: 
 guide protrusions laterally protruding from opposite lateral surfaces of the water leakage sensor; and    guide ribs provided at the top of the base pan and having guide grooves corresponding to the respective guide protrusions.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the guide protrusions and guide grooves are configured such that their cross sectional areas are gradually reduced in a direction that the guide protrusions are slidably inserted into the guide grooves.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein each of the guide ribs is formed at a lower location thereof with an inlet hole so that water gathered in the base pan is introduced into a sensor body.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the top of the base pan is inclined downward toward a mounting position of the water leakage sensor.