Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine having a structure to electrically connect electronic parts inside a door of the washing machine to different electronic parts inside a cabinet of the washing machine. The washing machine includes: the cabinet which is equipped with a first electronic part therein, the cabinet having an opening to put in laundry; the door which is equipped with a second electronic part therein and is configured to open or close the opening of the cabinet; a hinge assembly configured to pivotally connect the door with the cabinet; and a wire configured to be inserted through the hinge assembly to electrically connect the electronic parts of the cabinet and the electronic parts of the door.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet equipped with a first electronic part therein and having an opening;   a door equipped with a second electronic part therein and configured to open or close the opening;   a hinge assembly comprising a link unit disposed between the cabinet and the door to allow the door to pivot forward from the cabinet; and   a wire configured to pass the hinge assembly to electrically connect the first electronic part and the second electronic part,   wherein the link unit comprises:
 a wire guide concavely formed along a side of the link unit for the wire to be inserted thereto; and 
 a link unit cover detachably coupled to the wire guide to prevent the wire from being exposed to an outside, and 
   wherein the link unit cover comprises a first portion to cover the wire guide and a second portion that protrudes from the first portion to form at least one wire path.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wire inserted in the wire guide is pulled out of the hinge assembly through the at least one wire path. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is formed at an end of the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first portion comprises an inner surface facing the wire guide and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, and   the second portion extends from the outer surface.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein an outer surface extends in a first direction and the second portion extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the link unit cover forms a portion of an exterior of the link unit. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the link unit cover includes couplers formed at an end of the link unit cover to combine the link unit cover with the link unit. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the link unit cover is combined with the link unit to cover the wire guide by the couplers. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the couplers include a first coupler and a second coupler facing each other. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein a first fixing hole is formed to be coupled with an inner wall of the link unit. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein a second fixing hole is formed to be coupled with an outer wall of the link unit. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hinge assembly comprises a first bracket coupled to the cabinet and a second bracket coupled to the door, and   the link unit is configured to pivotally connect the first bracket and the second bracket.