Casing structure for preventing water penetration, and control panel assembly in washing machine having same

Abstract

Disclosed are a casing structure for preventing water penetration and a control panel assembly for a washing machine and a washing machine having the same. Embodiments of the present invention include a water movement drainage part provided at either of a rear edge of a front casing and a front edge of a rear casing that are in contact with each other and having a water guide flow path guiding water received therein to fall outwardly of and away from electrical equipment. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention can prevent water from penetrating into the electrical equipment to thereby prevent malfunction or failure thereof and improve the durability of the washing machine appliance while improving the reliability thereof. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention simplify the coupling structure of the casings to strengthen the mold used to manufacture the casings and reduce misalignment that may occur at a joint of the casings while increasing the joint strength.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A casing structure restricting water penetration thereof, the casing structure comprising:
 a front casing comprising a rear edge;   a rear casing comprising a front edge, wherein the front and rear casings are detachably coupled to each other and contain electrical equipment disposed therein,   wherein further the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing contact each other; and   a water movement drainage part positioned at one edge, as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing, to overlap with a lower portion of a remaining edge, and wherein the water movement drainage part comprises a water guide flow path operable to guide water to fall away from the electrical equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The casing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the water movement drainage part is inclined downward from a central portion to opposite sides thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The casing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the water movement drainage part extends in a width direction wherein at least opposite ends thereof are separated greater in length than opposite ends of the electrical equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The casing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the water movement drainage part comprises:
 a flow path bottom portion that overlaps with the lower portion of the remaining edge as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing; and   a flow path forming protrusion protruding upward from an end of the flow path bottom portion to form the water guide flow path.   
     
     
         5 . The casing structure of  claim 4 , wherein the flow path forming protrusion supports a lower surface of the remaining edge as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing. 
     
     
         6 . The casing structure of  claim 5 , wherein the flow path forming protrusion is configured wherein an upper end thereof is inclined at an inclination angle corresponding to inclination of the lower surface to be in close contact with the lower surface. 
     
     
         7 . The casing structure of  claim 6 , wherein one edge, as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing, has a flow path forming inclined surface formed at an incline at a lower portion thereof and separated from an upper surface of the flow path bottom portion. 
     
     
         8 . The casing structure of  claim 7 , wherein one edge, as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing, is positioned wherein at least 50% of a thickness thereof is in contact with the lower portion of the remaining edge. 
     
     
         9 . The casing structure of  claim 7 , wherein the flow path forming protrusion protrudes to a height greater than a distance between the flow path inclined surface and the flow path bottom portion. 
     
     
         10 . The casing structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water blocking rib portion which stands vertically between an end of the water movement drainage part and the electrical equipment and is operable to block water drained through the water movement drainage part from splashing toward the electrical equipment.   
     
     
         11 . A control panel assembly for a washing machine, the control panel assembly comprising:
 a control panel comprising: a plurality of switches for operating the washing machine; and a display unit operable to display an operation state of the washing machine;   a front casing having the control panel mounted thereon;   a rear casing detachably coupled to the front casing,   wherein a rear edge of the front casing and a front edge of the rear casing contact each other; and   a water movement drainage part disposed at one edge, as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing, to overlap with a lower portion of a remaining edge, the water movement drainage part comprising a water guide flow path for guiding water to fall away from electrical equipment of the washing machine.   
     
     
         12 . The control panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the water movement drainage part inclines downward from a central portion to opposite sides thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The control panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the water movement drainage part extends in a width direction wherein at least opposite ends thereof are greater in length than opposite ends of the electrical equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The control panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the water movement drainage part comprises:
 a flow path bottom portion that overlaps with the lower portion of the remaining edge as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing; and   a flow path forming protrusion protruding upward from an end of the flow path bottom portion to form the water guide flow path.   
     
     
         15 . The control panel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the flow path forming protrusion supports a lower surface of the remaining edge as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing. 
     
     
         16 . The control panel assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the flow path forming protrusion is configured wherein an upper end thereof is inclined at an inclination angle corresponding to inclination of the lower surface and is disposed in close contact with the lower surface. 
     
     
         17 . The control panel assembly of  claim 16 , wherein one edge, as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing, has a flow path forming inclined surface that is inclined at a lower portion thereof and separated from an upper surface of the flow path bottom portion. 
     
     
         18 . The control panel assembly of  claim 17 , wherein one edge, as between the rear edge of the front casing and the front edge of the rear casing, is positioned wherein at least 50% of a thickness thereof contacts the lower portion of the remaining edge. 
     
     
         19 . The control panel assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the flow path forming protrusion protrudes to a height greater than a distance between the flow path inclined surface and the flow path bottom portion. 
     
     
         20 . The control panel assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a water blocking rib portion which stands vertically between an end of the water movement drainage part and the electrical equipment and is operable to block water drained through the water movement drainage part from splashing toward the electrical equipment.