Washing machine

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine which is capable of substantially preventing vibrations of an outer tub occurring due to rotation of a rotary drum thereof from being transmitted from a base to a frame thereof. A lower edge portion ( 106 A) of a left side face plate ( 106 ), a lower edge portion ( 107 A) of a right side face plate ( 107 ) and a lower edge portion ( 108 A) of a rear face plate ( 108 ) of a frame ( 101 ) surrounding an outer tub ( 4 ) are fixed to a base ( 102 ) by screws. On the other hand, a front portion (more specifically, a front left portion ( 111 ), a front right portion ( 112 ) and a second connection plate ( 110 )) of the frame ( 101 ) and a control box ( 12 ) fixed to the front portion of the frame ( 101 ) by screws are not fixed to the base ( 102 ). Therefore, the vibrations of the outer tub ( 4 ) occurring due to the rotation of the drum ( 5 ) are substantially prevented from being transmitted from the base ( 102 ) to the front portion of the frame ( 101 ) which is an eye-catching portion of the washing machine ( 1 ).

1 . A washing machine, which performs a washing step, a rinsing step and a dehydrating step, the washing machine comprising:
 a base defining a lower end of a washing machine body;   an outer tub attached to the base via a plurality of dampers and having an opening provided on a front side thereof for loading and unloading garment;   a rotary drum rotatably provided in the outer tub for containing the garment loaded through the opening;   a frame surrounding the outer tub;   a door which covers and uncovers the opening; and   a control box incorporating a control circuit for controlling a laundry process, and disposed in a lower portion of a front portion of the frame;   wherein a lower portion of a left side face of the frame is fixed to a left portion of the base by a screw;   wherein a lower portion of a right side face of the frame is fixed to a right portion of the base by a screw;   wherein a lower portion of a rear face of the frame is fixed to a rear portion of the base by a screw;   wherein the control box is fixed to the front portion of the frame by a screw;   wherein the front portion of the frame and the control box are unfixed to the base.   
     
     
         2 . A washing machine, which performs a washing step, a rinsing step and a dehydrating step, the washing machine comprising:
 a base defining a lower end of a washing machine body;   an outer tub attached to the base via a plurality of dampers and having an opening provided on a front side thereof for loading and unloading garment;   a rotary drum rotatably provided in the outer tub for containing the garment loaded through the opening;   a frame surrounding the outer tub; and   a door which covers and uncovers the opening;   wherein a lower portion of a left side face of the frame is fixed to a left portion of the base by a screw;   wherein a lower portion of a right side face of the frame is fixed to a right portion of the base by a screw;   wherein a lower portion of a front portion and/or a lower portion of a rear face of the frame are unfixed to the base.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the base includes an integral receiving portion which receives the lower portion of the front portion of the frame.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the front portion of the frame includes a vertically elongated front left portion, a vertically elongated front right portion and a front connection portion which connects the front left portion and the front right portion,   wherein an upper portion of the control box is fixed to the front connection portion by a screw.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the control box is fixed to the front left portion and/or the front right portion by a screw.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to any of  claims 1 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , further comprising an upper member and a lower member covering the front portion of the frame from an outer side,
 wherein the upper member is fixed to the frame, 
 wherein an upper portion of the lower member engages a lower portion of the upper member with a play, 
 wherein a lower portion of the lower member is fixed to the base by a screw, 
 wherein the lower member is unfixed to the frame.