Drum type washing machine having vertically openable door

Abstract

A drum type washing machine having a vertically openable door includes a cabinet having an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet to allow laundry to be put into or removed from the opening, a door provided at the front wall of the cabinet to open or close the opening, and a link opening/closing mechanism having links connected between the cabinet and the door to allow the door to be opened when the door is moved downwardly, and to be closed when the door is moved upwardly, such that an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened. The door can be utilized as a laundry holder when the door is open, and even when the drum type washing machine is located in a narrow space, the door can be easily opened or closed while allowing the laundry to be conveniently put into or taken out of the washing machine.

1 . A drum type washing machine having a vertically openable door, comprising: 
 a cabinet having an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet to allow laundry to be put into or removed from the opening;    a door disposed at the front wall of the cabinet and configured to open or close the opening; and    a link opening/closing mechanism including a plurality of links connected between the cabinet and the door, the link opening/closing mechanism being configured to allow the door to open when the door is moved downwardly, and to close when the door is moved upwardly,    wherein an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened.    
   
   
       2 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the door has a container-shaped portion configured to contain the laundry when the door is opened.  
   
   
       3 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the door includes a door frame disposed at the front wall of the cabinet, and a container-shaped door window provided on the door frame and which has a convex structure protruding into the opening of the cabinet.  
   
   
       4 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the link opening/closing mechanism includes at least first and second link members respectively connected to opposite side portions of the door to form a four-link structure.  
   
   
       5 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the first link member includes first and second opposite ends respectively connected to a lower portion of the first side portion of the door and to a forward position of the bottom surface of the cabinet, and the second link member includes first and second opposite ends respectively connected to an upper portion of the second side portion of the door above the lower portion of the first side portion the first link member is connected, and to a rearward portion of the bottom surface of the cabinet behind the forward position of the bottom surface to which the first link member is connected.  
   
   
       6 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface of the cabinet includes at least first and second link brackets to which the first and second link members are respectively connected.  
   
   
       7 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cabinet, the door, or the link opening/closing mechanism includes a stopper configured to prevent the door from opening beyond a completely opened position of the door.  
   
   
       8 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes at least one longitudinally elongated slit configured to allow the link opening/closing mechanism to move along the slit, the slit positioned at the front wall of the cabinet.  
   
   
       9 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein each slit includes a shield configured to prevent foreign matter from entering the slit.  
   
   
       10 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an automatic opening/closing mechanism configured to automatically open or close the door by lifting or lowering the link opening/closing mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The drum type washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the automatic opening/closing mechanism includes an electric motor configured to rotate the link opening/closing mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . A washing machine having a vertically openable door for washing at least one item, comprising: 
 a cabinet having an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet to allow the item to be put into or removed from the opening;    a door disposed at the front wall of the cabinet and configured to open or close the opening; and    a link opening/closing mechanism including a plurality of links connected between the cabinet and the door, the link opening/closing mechanism being configured to allow the door to open when the door is moved downwardly, and to close when the door is moved upwardly,    wherein an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened.    
   
   
       13 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the door has a container-shaped portion configured to contain the item when the door is opened.  
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the link opening/closing mechanism includes at least first and second link members respectively connected to opposite side portions of the door to form a four-link structure.  
   
   
       15 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , further comprising an automatic opening/closing mechanism configured to automatically open or close the door by lifting or lowering the link opening/closing mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . A vertically openable door for opening or closing an opening at a front wall of a cabinet, the vertically openable door comprising: 
 a link opening/closing mechanism including a plurality of links connected between the cabinet and the vertically openable door, the link opening/closing mechanism being configured to allow the vertically openable door to open when the vertically openable door is moved downwardly, and to close when the vertically openable door is moved upwardly,    wherein an outer surface of the vertically openable door faces upwardly when the vertically openable door is opened.    
   
   
       17 . The vertically openable door according to  claim 16 , further comprising a container-shaped portion configured to contain an item to be placed within the cabinet when the vertically openable door is opened.  
   
   
       18 . The vertically openable door according to  claim 16 , wherein the link opening/closing mechanism includes at least first and second link members respectively connected to opposite side portions of the vertically openable door to form a four-link structure.  
   
   
       19 . The vertically openable door according to  claim 16 , further comprising a stopper configured to prevent the vertically openable door from opening beyond a completely opened position of the vertically openable door.  
   
   
       20 . The vertically openable door according to  claim 16 , further comprising an automatic opening/closing mechanism configured to automatically open or close the vertically openable door by lifting or lowering the link opening/closing mechanism.