Laundry treatment apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treatment apparatus includes a casing; an outer tub disposed in the casing; and a horizontal vibration buffering device coupling the outer tub with the casing. The horizontal vibration buffering device includes a casing connecting part coupled to the casing; an outer tub connecting part coupled to an side surface of the outer tub and having a displacement relative the casing connecting part as the outer tub vibrates; and a damper providing an attenuation force corresponding to the displacement of the outer tub connecting part relative the casing connecting part, and wherein the casing connecting part is positioned lower side the outer tub connecting part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a casing;   an outer tub disposed in the casing; and   a horizontal vibration buffering device coupling the outer tub with the casing,   wherein the horizontal vibration buffering device comprises:
 a casing connecting part coupled to the casing; 
 an outer tub connecting part connected with an side surface of the outer tub and having a displacement relative the casing connecting part as the outer tub vibrates; and 
 a damper providing an attenuation force corresponding to the displacement of the outer tub connecting part relative the casing connecting part, 
 wherein the casing connecting part is positioned lower than the outer tub connecting part. 
   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vertical vibration buffering device suspending the outer tub in the casing, wherein the vertical vibration buffering device comprises:
 a casing connecting part coupled to an upper part of the casing; 
 an outer tub connecting part coupled to an upper part of the outer tub, the outer tub connecting part having a displacement relative the casing connecting part as the outer tub vibrates in a vertical direction; and 
 a damper providing an attenuation force corresponding to the displacement of the outer tub connecting part relative the casing connecting part. 
   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the casing comprises:
 a main body having an opened upper part;   a base supporting the main body; and   a top cover covering the opened upper part of the main body, the top cover having a laundry entrance/exit hole through which laundry is entered and exited,   wherein the casing connecting part of the vertical vibration buffering device is coupled to the top cover, and the casing connecting part of the horizontal vibration buffering device is coupled to the base.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises:
 a cylinder filled with a fluid having a predetermined viscosity; and   a piston within the cylinder, the piston having a displacement relative the cylinder as the outer tub vibrates.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises:
 a cylinder; and   a piston within the cylinder, the piston having a displacement relative the cylinder as the outer tub vibrates,   wherein any one of the piston and the cylinder includes a frictional member providing a frictional force between itself and the other of the piston and the cylinder.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the casing connecting part is coupled to a bottom of the casing. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a line connecting the casing connecting part with the outer tub connecting part forms an acute angle relative a vertical line at the outer tub connecting part/outer tub connection. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supporting member suspending the outer tub in the casing,   wherein the supporting member is coupled to a lower part of the outer tub, and the outer tub connecting part is coupled to an upper part of the outer tub.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising
 a vertical vibration buffering device coupled to supporting member with the outer tub,   wherein the vertical vibration buffering device includes a damper providing an attenuation force corresponding to vertical vibration of the outer tub.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the casing comprises:
 a main body having an opened upper part; and   a base supporting the main body,   wherein the casing connecting part of the horizontal vibration buffering device is coupled to the base.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the casing connecting part is coupled to the casing at a position lower than the outer tub. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a pair of horizontal vibration buffering devices are arranged in the casing to form opposite angles with respect to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least four horizontal vibration buffering devices are provided in the casing and positioned symmetrical relative each other. 
     
     
         14 . A laundry treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a casing;   an outer tub disposed in the casing;   a first casing connecting part coupled to the casing;   a first outer tub connecting part coupled to a side surface of the outer tub, the first outer tub connecting part having a displacement relative the first casing connecting part as the outer tub vibrates; and   a first damper providing an attenuation force corresponding to the displacement of the first outer tub connecting part relative the first casing connecting part,   wherein the first casing connecting part is positioned lower than the first outer tub connecting part.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second casing connecting part coupled to an upper part of the casing;   a second outer tub connecting part coupled an upper part of the outer tub, the second outer tub connecting part having a displacement relative the second casing connecting part as the outer tub vibrates in a vertical direction; and   a damper providing an attenuation force corresponding to the displacement of the second outer tub connecting part relative the second casing connecting part.   
     
     
         16 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second casing connecting part is coupled to the casing at a position higher than the outer tub. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first casing connecting part is coupled to a bottom of the casing. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein a line connecting the first casing connecting part with the first outer tub connecting part forms an acute angle relative a vertical line at the first outer tub connecting part/outer tub connection. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a supporting member suspending the outer tub in the casing,   wherein the supporting member is coupled to a lower part of the outer tub, and the first outer tub connecting part is coupled to an upper part of the outer tub.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first casing connecting part is coupled to the casing at a position lower than the outer tub.