Door assembly and washing machine

Abstract

The invention provides a door assembly and a washing machine, the door assembly comprises a door body, a hinge structure and a front sealing door, the hinge structure is arranged on one side of the front sealing door, the door body is hinged to the front sealing door through the hinge structure, a lock catch structure is arranged on the other side of the door body, an elastic piece and a damper are arranged in the hinge structure, and the elastic piece and the damper are arranged in the front sealing door. The damper is connected with the elastic piece, when the door body is closed, the elastic piece is in a compressed state, and after the lock catch structure is unlocked, the elastic piece automatically opens the door body under the action of restoring force. The door body is automatically opened through the arrangement of the elastic piece, meanwhile, the damper is used for reducing the opening speed of the door body, the situation that the door body pops up too fast due to sudden return of the elastic assembly is avoided, damage to the door body and the hinge part is reduced, and the working life and stability of the hinge part are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of washing machines, and in particular to a door assembly and a washing machine. Background Art

[0002] Washing machines are commonly used household appliances. With the improvement of people's living standards, washing machines of different sizes and styles are gradually entering the market, and users have higher and higher requirements for the intelligence of washing machines. The door of the washing machine is an important part for users to contact the washing machine, and its convenience is very important to users. After washing or drying, the door in the prior art mostly needs to be opened manually by the user, and the intelligence is poor. In addition, an escape space for accommodating fingers to be inserted needs to be set on one side of the door, which affects the smoothness of the door and further affects the appearance. Therefore, how to solve the problem of intelligence when the door is opened is an important direction for the improvement of the current washing machine door. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention aims to provide a door assembly and a washing machine to solve the problem in the prior art that the door body cannot be opened automatically.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is achieved as follows:

[0005] A door assembly includes a door body, a hinge structure and a front sealing door, wherein the hinge structure is arranged on one side of the front sealing door, the door body is hinged to the front sealing door through the hinge structure, a lock structure is arranged on the other side of the door body, an elastic member and a damper are arranged inside the hinge structure, the damper is connected to the elastic member, when the door body is closed, the elastic member is in a compressed state, after the lock structure is unlocked, the elastic member automatically opens the door body due to the restoring force. The setting of the elastic member realizes the automatic opening of the door body, and the damper is used to reduce the opening speed of the door body, thereby realizing the automatic opening of the door body, and opening slowly at the same time, avoiding the sudden recovery of the elastic member and causing the door body to bounce open too quickly. In addition, since the hinge structure is the hinged part between the door body and the front sealing door, the elastic member and the damper are arranged together at the hinge structure instead of the lock part, while realizing the automatic opening, the rotation speed of the door body after the automatic opening can be effectively controlled, the damage to the door body and the hinge part can be reduced, and the working life and stability of the hinge part can be improved.

[0006] Furthermore, the hinge structure includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member, one end of the first connecting member is connected to the door body, and the other end is connected to the second connecting member, the second connecting member is connected to the front sealing door, and the elastic member and the damper are arranged at the connecting portion between the second connecting member and the first connecting member.

[0007] Furthermore, one end of the elastic member is connected to the first connecting member, and the other end of the elastic member is connected to the damper, so that the damper controls the elastic member in a compressed state to slowly release, and then the elastic member drives the door body to slowly open through the first connecting member.

[0008] Further, a first sleeve is provided at one end of the first connecting member close to the second connecting member, one end of the elastic member is connected to the first sleeve, one end of the damper extends into the first sleeve, the other end of the damper is located outside the first sleeve, and one end of the elastic member away from the first sleeve is connected to the damper. The first sleeve is provided to achieve connection between the door body and the elastic member, and at the same time, to achieve fixed installation of the damper.

[0009] Furthermore, the second connecting member is configured as a bracket structure for supporting the first connecting member, the elastic member and the damper.

[0010] Furthermore, the second connecting member includes a lower supporting portion, an upper supporting portion and a supporting plate, the supporting plate is configured as a plate-shaped or approximately plate-shaped structure, and the supporting plate is connected to the front sealing door.

[0011] Furthermore, a first fixing tube is arranged on the lower supporting portion, the first fixing tube is arranged as a hollow structure, and the lower portion of the first sleeve of the first connecting member is inserted into the interior of the first fixing tube.

[0012] Furthermore, the lower part of the elastic member is sleeved on the first sleeve and is located outside the first fixed tube, so as to avoid the elastic member causing wear on the first fixed tube when the first sleeve rotates inside the first fixed tube, while ensuring the flexibility of the first sleeve in rotation.

[0013] Furthermore, the hinge structure further comprises a support member, which is arranged on the upper part of the upper support portion of the second connecting member and is connected to the upper support portion, and is used to fix the upper end of the damper. The support member cooperates with the lower support portion to support and fix the first sleeve, the elastic member and the damper.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the door assembly of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0015] The door body is automatically opened by setting the elastic member, and the damper is used to reduce the opening speed of the door body, thereby realizing automatic opening of the door body and opening it slowly at the same time, avoiding the door body from opening too quickly due to the sudden recovery of the elastic member. In addition, since the hinge structure is the hinged part between the door body and the front sealing door, the elastic member and the damper are set at the hinge structure instead of the lock part. While realizing automatic opening, the rotation speed of the door body after automatic opening can be effectively controlled, reducing damage to the door body and the hinge part, and improving the working life and stability of the hinge part.

[0016] The present invention also provides a washing machine, comprising the door assembly described above.

[0017] The advantages of the washing machine and the door assembly described above over the prior art are the same and will not be described in detail herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention from another perspective;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the door body and hinge structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the door body and hinge structure according to an embodiment of the present invention from another perspective;

[0022] Figure 5 A top view of the door body and hinge structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 This is an axial view of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 A side view of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Middle AA section view;

[0026] Fig. 9 An exploded view of a hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Fig.10 This is a schematic diagram of a front door sealing assembly capable of realizing left and right door opening according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Fig.11 This is a schematic diagram of a front door sealing assembly capable of opening the door up and down according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Fig.12 It is a schematic structural diagram of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention when the door body is in a closed state;

[0030] Fig.13 This is a schematic structural diagram of a washing machine when the door is in an open state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Description of reference numerals:

[0032] 1-door body, 11-door inner ring, 12-anti-scalding cover, 13-door glass, 14-decorative ring, 2-hinge structure, 21-elastic member, 22-damper, 23-first connecting member, 231-first sleeve, 24-second connecting member, 241-first fixed cylinder, 242-lower support part, 243-upper support part, 244-first fixed part, 245-support plate, 25-support member, 251-second fixed cylinder, 252-second fixed part, 3-locking structure, 31-door hook, 4-front sealing door, 5-front shell, 6-rear shell DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In addition, the directions involved in the following specific embodiments are briefly described: the directions or positional relationships indicated by "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "top", "bottom" and the like mentioned in the embodiments refer to the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and the term "on..." refers to being directly or indirectly supported by... elements.

[0034] It should be noted that in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or mutual communication; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0035] like Figures 1 to 11As shown, a door assembly for a washing machine includes a door body 1, a hinge structure 2 and a front sealing door 4, wherein the hinge structure 2 is arranged on one side of the front sealing door 4, the door body 1 is hinged to the front sealing door 4 through the hinge structure 2, and a lock structure 3 is arranged on the other side of the door body 1, and an elastic member 21 and a damper 22 are arranged inside the hinge structure 2, and the damper 22 is connected to the elastic member 21. When the door body 1 is closed, the elastic member 21 is in a compressed state. After the lock structure 3 is unlocked, the elastic member 21 automatically opens the door body 1 due to the restoring force, and the damper 22 is used to reduce the opening speed of the door body 1, thereby realizing automatic opening of the door body and opening slowly at the same time, avoiding the elastic member suddenly restoring and causing the door body to bounce too fast. In addition, since the hinge structure is the hinged part between the door body and the front sealing door, the elastic member and the damper are arranged together at the hinge structure instead of the lock part. While realizing automatic opening, the rotation speed of the door body after automatic opening can be effectively controlled, reducing damage to the door body and the hinge part, and improving the working life and stability of the hinge part.

[0036] Specifically, the hinge structure 2 includes a first connecting member 23 and a second connecting member 24, wherein one end of the first connecting member 23 is connected to the door body 1, the other end of the first connecting member 23 is connected to the second connecting member 24, and the second connecting member 24 is connected to the front sealing door 4. Further, the first connecting member 23 is configured as an arc structure to facilitate the door body to rotate and open.

[0037] Among them, the elastic member 21 and the damper 22 are arranged at the connecting part of the second connecting member 24 and the first connecting member 23, one end of the elastic member 21 is connected to the first connecting member 23, and the other end of the elastic member 21 is connected to the damper 22, so that the damper 22 controls the elastic member 21 in a compressed state to be slowly released, and then the elastic member 21 drives the door body to open slowly through the first connecting member 23.

[0038] Furthermore, one end of the first connecting member 23 is connected to the door body by screws or other common connecting members, and a first sleeve 231 is provided at one end of the first connecting member 23 close to the second connecting member 24, one end of the elastic member 21 is connected to the first sleeve 231, and one end of the damper 22 extends into the interior of the first sleeve 231, and the other end of the damper 22 is located outside the first sleeve 231, and one end of the elastic member 21 away from the first sleeve 231 is connected to the damper 22, and the connection between the door body and the elastic member is achieved by the setting of the first sleeve 231, and the fixed installation of the damper is achieved. Preferably, the first sleeve 231 and the first connecting member 23 can be set as an integrally formed structure to avoid the loosening of the hinge structure when the door body is frequently rotated.

[0039] Furthermore, the elastic member 21 can be configured as a torsion spring structure, wherein a portion of the torsion spring near one end is sleeved on the first sleeve 231 , and a portion of the torsion spring near the other end is sleeved on the damper 22 .

[0040] The second connecting member 24 is configured as a bracket structure, which is used to support the first connecting member 23, the elastic member 21 and the damper 22. Specifically, the second connecting member 24 includes a lower support portion 242, an upper support portion 243 and a support plate 245, wherein the support plate 245 is configured as a plate-shaped or approximately plate-shaped structure, and the support plate 245 is connected to the front sealing door 4. The lower support portion 242 and the upper support portion 243 are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the support plate 245 or at positions close to the upper and lower ends, and the lower support portion 242 and the upper support portion 243 are both perpendicular to the support plate 245, and the lower support portion 242 and the upper support portion 243 are parallel, and the space between the lower support portion 242 and the upper support portion 243 is used to accommodate the first sleeve, the elastic member and the damper structure.

[0041] Specifically, a first fixed cylinder 241 is provided on the lower support portion 242, and the first fixed cylinder 241 is provided at one end of the lower support portion away from the support plate 245. The first fixed cylinder 241 is provided as a hollow structure, and the lower portion of the first sleeve 231 is inserted into the first fixed cylinder 241 to achieve a fixed connection between the lower portion of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and the first connecting member can rotate relative to the second connecting member through the first sleeve. Further, the lower portion of the elastic member 21 is sleeved on the first sleeve 231, and the lower portion of the elastic member 21 is located outside the first fixed cylinder 241, so as to avoid the elastic member causing wear to the first fixed cylinder when the first sleeve 231 rotates inside the first fixed cylinder 241, and at the same time ensure the flexibility of the first sleeve to rotate. Further, a first fixed portion 244 is provided on the outer wall of the first fixed cylinder 241, which is used to fix the lower end of the elastic member 21, so as to avoid the elastic member 21 as a whole rotating with the first sleeve and losing the automatic restoring force. Preferably, the first fixing portion 244 is configured as a fixing groove or a fixing hole structure, which can achieve the insertion and fixing of the end of the elastic member.

[0042] As part of an embodiment of the present invention, the hinge structure 2 also includes a support member 25, which is arranged on the upper part of the upper support portion 243 and is connected to the upper support portion 243. The support member 25 is used to fix the upper end of the damper 22. The support member 25 cooperates with the lower support portion 242 to support and fix the first sleeve, the elastic member and the damper.

[0043] Specifically, the support member 25 includes a second fixing cylinder 251 and a second fixing portion 252, wherein the second fixing cylinder 251 is arranged at a position coaxial with the first fixing cylinder 241, and the top end of the damper 22 is inserted and installed inside the second fixing cylinder 251, thereby achieving the top fixation of the damper. Further, the second fixing portion 252 is arranged outside the second fixing cylinder 251, and the second fixing portion 252 is used to fix the top end of the elastic member.

[0044] As part of the embodiment of the present invention, the coordination process of the components of the door assembly when it is in the open and closed states is described as follows:

[0045] When the door body rotates and closes, the second connecting member 24 and the supporting member 25 are connected to the front sealing door and remain stationary, and the first connecting member 23 rotates with the door body 1. At the same time, the elastic member 21 sleeved on the first sleeve 231 and the damper 22 partially installed inside the first sleeve 231 rotate with the first connecting member 23. Since the end of the elastic member is fixed but the middle part of the elastic member rotates with the first connecting member, the elastic member 21 is gradually compressed to store elastic energy. When the door body is closed in place, the elastic member 21 is in a compressed state, and the locking structure 3 on the other side of the door body 1 is locked to achieve tight closure of the door body.

[0046] When the washing or drying operation is completed and the locking structure is unlocked, the external force on one end of the door body 1 close to the locking structure is released, and the elastic part begins to push the door body 1 to open automatically due to the restoring force. At the same time, the rotation speed of the damper is slowed down due to the viscosity of the internal grease, which in turn drives the elastic part to slow down the release speed, thereby realizing automatic and slow opening of the door body.

[0047] As part of the embodiments of the present invention, Figures 1 to 5 As shown in 12-13, since the door body is an automatic pop-up structure, it does not need to be opened manually. Therefore, the outer edge of the door body 1 on the side close to the front sealing door 4 is set to a smoothly transitioned arc structure, the front shell 5 covers the outside of the front sealing door 4, and the outer edge of the door body 1 on the side close to the front shell 5 is set to a smoothly transitioned arc structure. Correspondingly, the front shell 5 is set with a countersunk mouth at the corresponding part of the door body 1, and the edge of the countersunk mouth is also set to a smooth transition. The shape of the countersunk mouth matches the shape of the outer edge of the door body 1 on the side close to the front shell 5. The smooth transition setting of the inner edge of the door body omits the concave cavity for accommodating fingers to be inserted, so that when the door body is in a closed state, the matching part of the door body and the front shell forms a compact and tight structure, and the design of the hand-catching part is omitted, which visually reduces pits and black holes, making the overall appearance of the door body beautiful and rounded.

[0048] Specifically, the door body 1 includes a door inner ring 11, a door outer ring and an anti-scalding cover 12, wherein the door inner ring 11 is arranged on a side close to the front sealing door 4, the anti-scalding cover 12 is arranged on a side away from the front sealing door 4, and the door outer ring is arranged between the door inner ring 11 and the anti-scalding cover 12, wherein the portion of the door inner ring 11 close to the axis on the side facing the front shell 5 is arranged to be convex inwardly, and the edge extends outwardly in an arc shape, and the door inner ring 11 on the side facing the front shell 5 forms an arc structure with a smooth transition as a whole.

[0049] Furthermore, the outer edge of the anti-scalding cover 12 is also configured as an outwardly convex arc structure with a smooth transition, and the anti-scalding cover 12 forms the outermost structure of the door body, making the door body rounded in appearance.

[0050] Furthermore, the door inner ring 11 is set as an annular structure, and the middle part of the door inner ring 11 is set as a hollow structure. The door glass 13 is connected at the hollow structure. The door glass 13 is set on the basis of the electrical control components inside the sealed door body to form a visual port, which is convenient for observing the washing condition of the clothes in the drum.

[0051] The door body 1 also includes a decorative ring 14, which is arranged at the edge of the door body 1 to cover the outer edges of the sealed door inner ring 11, the door outer ring and the anti-scalding cover 12 to prevent the sharp edges of the door body from being exposed to the outside and at the same time play an aesthetic role.

[0052] As part of the embodiments of the present invention, Figures 10-11 As shown, the hinge structure described in this embodiment can be arranged on the left or right side of the front sealing door 4 to form a structure for opening the door in the left and right directions; the hinge structure can also be arranged on the upper or lower side of the front sealing door 4 to form a structure for opening the door in the upper and lower directions. The lock structure 3 is arranged opposite to the hinge structure 2, that is, when the hinge structure is arranged on the left or right side of the front sealing door 4, the lock structure 3 is arranged on the right or left side of the front sealing door 4; when the hinge structure is arranged on the upper or lower side of the front sealing door 4, the lock structure 3 is arranged on the lower or upper side of the front sealing door 4.

[0053] As part of the embodiment of the present invention, the lock catch structure 3 is arranged as an inclined structure relative to the central axis of the door body, so as to reduce the vertical distance between the door body and the cylinder assembly, thereby saving space. Specifically, the lock catch structure 3 includes a door hook 31 and a lock body 32, wherein the lock body 32 is mounted on the front sealing door 4, and the door hook 31 is mounted on the door body 1, preferably, the door hook 31 is mounted on the door inner ring 11.

[0054] Further, such as Figures 5-6 As shown, the angle α between the door hook 31 and the central axis of the door body is 10° to 70°. Preferably, the angle between the door hook 31 and the central axis of the door body is 25° to 45°.

[0055] As part of the embodiments of the present invention, Figures 12-13 As shown, the present invention further provides a washing machine, comprising the door assembly described above. The door assembly is arranged at the front side of the drum assembly and the housing assembly, and the housing assembly comprises a front housing 5 and a rear housing 6, the front housing 5 is located at the front side of the rear housing 6, and the front housing 5 covers the front sealing door 4, so that the molding and the lock structure on the front sealing door 4 are in a hidden state, making the overall appearance of the washing machine beautiful. The door assembly described in this embodiment can also be arranged on a dryer or a washer-dryer. Preferably, the door assembly described in the present invention is used for a desktop small drum washing machine or a desktop small drum washer-dryer.

[0056] Although the present invention is disclosed as above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A door assembly, comprising a door body (1), a hinge structure (2) and a front sealed door (4), wherein the hinge structure (2) is arranged on one side of the front sealed door (4), the door body (1) is hinged to the front sealed door (4) through the hinge structure (2), and a lock structure (3) is arranged on the other side of the door body (1), characterized in that: An elastic member (21) and a damper (22) are provided inside the hinge structure (2), and the damper (22) is connected to the elastic member (21). When the door body (1) is closed, the elastic member (21) is in a compressed state. After the lock structure (3) is unlocked, the elastic member (21) automatically opens the door body (1) due to the restoring force.

2. The door assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The hinge structure (2) comprises a first connecting member (23) and a second connecting member (24), one end of the first connecting member (23) is connected to the door body (1), and the other end is connected to the second connecting member (24), the second connecting member (24) is connected to the front sealing door (4), and the elastic member (21) and the damper (22) are arranged at the connection position between the second connecting member (24) and the first connecting member (23).

3. The door assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that One end of the elastic member (21) is connected to the first connecting member (23), and the other end of the elastic member (21) is connected to the damper (22).

4. The door assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that A first sleeve (231) is provided at one end of the first connecting member (23) close to the second connecting member (24); one end of the elastic member (21) is connected to the first sleeve (231); one end of the damper (22) extends into the first sleeve (231); the other end of the damper (22) is located outside the first sleeve (231); and one end of the elastic member (21) away from the first sleeve (231) is connected to the damper (22).

5. The door assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The second connecting member (24) is configured as a bracket structure, and is used to support the first connecting member (23), the elastic member (21), and the damper (22).

6. The door assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The second connecting member (24) comprises a lower supporting portion (242), an upper supporting portion (243) and a supporting plate (245); the supporting plate (245) is configured as a plate-shaped or approximately plate-shaped structure; and the supporting plate (245) is connected to the front sealing door (4).

7. The door assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that A first fixing tube (241) is arranged on the lower support portion (242); the first fixing tube (241) is arranged as a hollow structure; the lower portion of the first sleeve (231) of the first connecting member (23) is inserted into the interior of the first fixing tube (241).

8. The door assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that The lower part of the elastic member (21) is sleeved on the first sleeve (231), and the lower part of the elastic member (21) is located outside the first fixing tube (241).

9. The door assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The hinge structure (2) further comprises a support member (25), wherein the support member (25) is arranged on the upper part of the upper support portion (243) of the second connecting member (24), and the support member (25) is connected to the upper support portion (243), and the support member (25) is used to fix the upper end of the damper (22).

10. A washing machine, characterized in that: A door assembly comprising any one of claims 1 to 9.

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