Washing machine

Abstract

Provided is a washing machine having an improved structure in which a door may be firmly supported not to sag even though the door is repeatedly opened/closed for a long term while a user uses the washing machine. The washing machine includes: a main body; an opening formed in a front side of the main body; a door that opens/closes the opening; and a hinge member that allows the door to be rotatably coupled to the front side of the main body. The hinge member includes: a hinge body coupled to the front side of the main body; at least one hinge arm that extends from the hinge body; and at least one stopper that protrudes from an outer side of the hinge arm. The door includes: at least one accommodation groove in which at least a portion of the hinge arm is accommodated; and a cover plate that covers the accommodation groove to support the hinge arm and has at least one protrusion that protrudes from an inner side of the cover plate toward the hinge arm. When the door opens the opening, the stopper and the protrusion are in contact with each other so that rotation of the door can be limited.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a main body;   an opening formed in a front side of the main body;   a door that opens/closes the opening; and   a hinge member that allows the door to be rotatably coupled to the front side of the main body,   wherein the hinge member comprises:   a hinge body coupled to the front side of the main body;   at least one hinge arm that extends from the hinge body; and   at least one stopper that protrudes from an outer side of the at least one hinge arm,   wherein the door comprises:   a transparent member through which a user sees an inner side of a drum;   a holder member to which the transparent member is coupled and which has at least one accommodation groove in which at least a portion of the at least one hinge arm is accommodated; and   a cover plate that covers the at least one accommodation groove to support the at least one hinge arm and has at least one protrusion that protrudes from an inner side of the cover plate toward the at least one hinge arm, and   wherein when the door opens the opening, the at least one stopper and the at least one protrusion are in contact with each other so that rotation of the door is limited.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a first contact side is provided at one end of the at least one protrusion, a second contact side is provided at one end of the at least one stopper and contacts the first contact side, and an angle between a direction that is perpendicular to the first contact side and the second contact side and a direction in which the cover plate covers the at least one accommodation groove, is greater than 0° and less than 90°. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate comprises at least one protrusion formation hole for forming the at least one protrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge member is manufactured using injection molding, and a material for the hinge member is engineering plastic comprising glass fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one hinge arm comprises a first arm that extends from the hinge body, a second arm that slantingly extends from one end of the first arm, and a hinge shaft that extends from the second arm in a vertical direction, and   a distance from a rotational center of the hinge shaft to one end of the at least one stopper is longer than a distance from the rotational center of the hinge shaft to one end of the at least one protrusion.   
     
     
         6 . A washing machine comprising:
 a main body;   a drum that is rotatably installed in the main body;   a laundry port which is formed at a front side of the main body and through which laundry is put into the drum;   a hinge plate comprising a hinge body coupled to the front side of the main body toward an outer side of the laundry port and at least one hinge arm that extends from the hinge body;   a door that is rotatably coupled to the at least one hinge arm so as to open/close the laundry port and comprises an accommodation part accommodating at least a portion of the at least one hinge arm; and   a stopper that protrudes from an outer side of the at least one hinge arm and is in contact with at least a portion of the accommodation part so as to limit rotation of the door when the door opens the laundry port.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the accommodation part comprises a rotation limitation protrusion that protrudes from an inner side of the accommodation part toward the at least one hinge arm, and   the rotation limitation protrusion is in contact with the stopper and limits rotation of the door.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the rotation limitation protrusion pressurizes the stopper in a direction toward the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the door comprises:
 a transparent member through which a user sees an inner side of the drum;   a holder member to which the transparent member is coupled and which has an accommodation groove in which at least a portion of the at least one hinge arm is accommodated, the accommodating groove being formed in one side of the holder member; and   a cover plate that covers the accommodation groove and constitutes the accommodation part together with the accommodation groove.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one hinge arm comprises a first arm that extends from the hinge body, a second arm that slantingly extends from one end of the first arm, and a hinge shaft that extends from the second arm in a vertical direction and is a rotational center of the door, and   the accommodation groove comprises a first accommodation groove in which the second arm is accommodated and a second accommodation groove which crosses the first accommodation groove and in which the hinge shaft is accommodated.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the stopper protrudes from an outer side of the second arm, and
 the cover plate comprises a rotation limitation protrusion that protrudes from an inner side of the cover plate toward the hinge arm, is in contact with the stopper and limits rotation of the door.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein an angle between a virtual, first straight line that connects a rotational center of the hinge shaft and one end of the stopper and a virtual, second straight line that connects the rotational center of the hinge shaft and one end of the second arm connected to the first arm, is equal to or greater than 90° and equal to or less than 180°. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein an angle between a direction in which the stopper pressurizes the rotation limitation protrusion and a direction in which the cover plate is coupled to the holder member, is greater than 0° and less than 90°. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the stopper and the second arm are disposed at both sides of a virtual, third straight line based on the virtual, third straight line that is parallel to a rotational center of the drum and passes the rotational center of the hinge shaft in a state in which the door closes the laundry port. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 a first contact side is provided at one end of the rotation limitation protrusion, a second contact side is provided at one end of the stopper, contacts the first contact side, and pressurizes the first contact side, and   an angle between a direction that is parallel to the first contact side and the second contact side and a direction in which the cover plate is coupled to the holder member, is greater than 0° and less than 90°.   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein a distance from a rotational center of the at least one hinge arm to one end of the protrusion is shorter than a distance from the rotational center of the hinge arm to one end of the stopper. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein a material for the hinge plate is engineering plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the hinge plate comprises glass fiber (GF) having a content of 60% or more. 
     
     
         19 . A washing machine comprising:
 a main body having an opening;   a door that opens/closes the opening; and   a hinge member rotatably coupling the door to the main body,   wherein the hinge member comprises:   a hinge body coupled to the main body;   a hinge arm that extends from the hinge body; and   a stopper that protrudes from an outer side of the hinge arm,   wherein the door comprises:   a transparent member through which a user sees an inner side of a drum;   a holder member to which the transparent member is coupled and which has an accommodation groove in which at least a portion of the hinge arm is accommodated; and   a cover plate that covers the accommodation groove to support the hinge arm and has a protrusion that protrudes from an inner side of the accommodation groove toward the hinge arm, and   wherein when the door opens the opening, the stopper and the protrusion are in contact with each other so that rotation of the door is limited.