Lint filter

Abstract

To provide a lint filter that allows for easy attachment and detachment of the filter net. [Solution] The lint filter 1 is detachably attached to a filter holder 110 provided in the washing tub and comprises a shaft member 10 having a rotating shaft that is attached to the filter holder 110, a frame member 20 having an opening that is detachably locked to the shaft member 10, and a bag-shaped filter net 30 attached to the opening of the frame member 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0007] , ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lint filter that is detachable from a filter holder provided in a washing tub.

Background Art

[0002] In a washing machine, it is common to provide a lint filter in order to remove lint and the like generated from laundry during washing. Conventionally, a lint filter in which a filter net formed in a bag shape is fixed to a mounting frame or the like has been used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional lint filter, a net formed in a bag shape is firmly fixed to a mounting frame by welding or the like. And, shafts protruding from the frame are provided above and below the mounting frame, and the lint filter is attached so as to be swingable left and right by inserting the shafts into holes provided in the inner wall of the washing tub.

[0005] However, in a conventional lint filter, the shape is such that a shaft is provided on the mounting frame, and in order to remove the shaft provided inside the frame from the hole, a force is applied from the front surface of the frame, and there is a problem that it takes time to remove the lint filter.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a lint filter that can easily attach and detach a filter net.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The lint filter according to this disclosure is a lint filter that is detachable from a filter holder provided in a washing tub, and is characterized by comprising: a shaft member having a rotating shaft attached to the filter holder; a frame member having an opening and being detachably locked to the shaft member; and a bag-shaped filter net attached to the opening of the frame member.

[0008] In the lint filter according to this disclosure, when the direction along the rotation axis is considered as the axial direction, the shaft member may be configured to lock both ends of the frame member in the axial direction, and the rotation axis may be configured to extend from both ends of the shaft member in the axial direction.

[0009] In the lint filter according to this disclosure, the shaft member may have a rod-shaped portion connecting both ends in the axial direction, and the rod-shaped portion may have a bent portion that faces the opening of the frame member and is bent toward the inside of the filter net.

[0010] In the lint filter according to this disclosure, the shaft member may be configured such that both ends in the axial direction are connected via a frame portion that surrounds the outside of the opening of the frame member.

[0011] In the lint filter according to this disclosure, the frame member has a locking portion that engages with the shaft member and an elastically deformable portion that deforms when pressed to release the locking between the locking portion and the shaft member, and the locking portion may be located on the surface side of the elastically deformable portion.

[0012] In the lint filter according to this disclosure, the frame member may have a notch into which the shaft member is fitted.

[0013] In the lint filter according to this disclosure, the shaft member may have a side wall portion that surrounds the end of the frame member, and the end of the frame member may be shaped in accordance with the side wall portion.

[0014] In the lint filter according to the present disclosure, when the direction along the rotation axis is defined as the axial direction, the shaft member locks one end portion of the frame member in the axial direction, the rotation axis extends from one end portion of the shaft member in the axial direction, and a rotation axis attached to the filter holder may be provided at the other end portion of the frame member in the axial direction.

Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present disclosure, the filter net can be easily attached and detached.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a schematic external view showing a washing machine in a state where a lint filter is attached to a washing tub. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional lint filter. [Figure 3] It is a front external view showing the lint filter in a state of being attached to a filter holder. [Figure 4] It is a perspective external view showing the lint filter in a state of being attached to a filter holder. [Figure 5] It is a front view showing a shaft member. [Figure 6] It is a side view showing a shaft member. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing a shaft member. [Figure 8] It is a front view showing a frame member. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing a frame member. [Figure 10] It is an enlarged side view showing an upper end portion of the frame member in an enlarged manner. [Figure 11] It is a side view showing the frame member in a state of being attached to the shaft member. [Figure 12] It is a top view showing the frame member in a state of being attached to the shaft member. [Figure 13] It is a schematic explanatory view showing the shaft member and the frame member of the lint filter according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, extracted. [Figure 14]It is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an extraction of a shaft member and a frame member of a lint filter according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] It is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an extraction of a shaft member and a frame member of a lint filter according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a lint filter according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic external view showing a washing machine in a state where a lint filter is attached to a washing tub.

[0019] In a washing machine 100 in which a lint filter 1 is used, a filter holder 110 is provided on the inner surface side of a washing tub 101. The lint filter 1 is detachably attached to the filter holder 110 with one touch, and can be easily removed from the washing machine 100 for cleaning and replacement.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional lint filter.

[0021] A conventional lint filter (conventional filter 200) has a net 210 formed in a bag shape and a filter frame portion 201, and an opening portion of the net 210 is fixed to the filter frame portion 201. Insertion shafts 202 are extended from upper and lower end portions of the filter frame portion 201, and the conventional filter 200 is attached to the washing machine 100 by inserting the insertion shafts 202 into holes provided in the filter holder 110.

[0022] As described above, conventional filters 200 have an insertion shaft 202 provided on the filter frame portion 201 to which the net 210 is attached. When replacing the net 210, it is necessary to insert and remove the insertion shafts 202 provided on both ends, which presents a problem in that removing conventional filters 200 is time-consuming. To solve this problem, the lint filter 1 according to this disclosure has a structure that makes it easy to remove from the washing machine 100.

[0023] Figure 3 is a front view showing the lint filter mounted on the filter holder, and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the lint filter mounted on the filter holder. In Figures 3 and 4, the filter net 30 is shown in perspective for clarity.

[0024] The lint filter 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure comprises a shaft member 10 having a rotating shaft that is attached to a filter holder 110, a frame member 20 that is locked to the shaft member 10 and has an opening 21a (see Figure 8, described later), and a bag-shaped filter net 30 attached to the opening 21a of the frame member 20. The filter net 30 is formed in a bag shape from mesh fabric or the like and is firmly fixed to the opening 21a of the frame member 20 by welding or adhesive so that the opening is aligned with the opening 21a of the frame member 20.

[0025] In the configuration shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rotating shaft provided on the shaft member 10 extends along the vertical direction (axial direction), and the lint filter 1 has a structure in which the rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction is locked to the filter holder 110. The filter holder 110 is provided with an upper end support portion 110a that pivotally supports the upper end of the lint filter 1 and a lower end support portion 110b that pivotally supports the lower end of the lint filter 1, and the upper end support portion 110a and the lower end support portion 110b are provided with holes into which the rotating shaft of the lint filter 1 is inserted. The shape of the rotating shaft and the holes are not particularly limited as long as the structure is such that the rotating shaft is rotatably supported, for example, one of them may be circular and the other polygonal.

[0026] For explanatory purposes, the ends of the lint filter 1 in the vertical direction may be referred to as the upper end and lower end. Also, in the lint filter 1 when attached to the filter holder 110, the side exposed into the washing tub 101 may be referred to as the front side, and the side facing the filter holder 110 may be referred to as the back side.

[0027] Figure 5 is a front view showing the shaft member, Figure 6 is a side view showing the shaft member, and Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the shaft member.

[0028] In this embodiment, the shaft member 10 is configured to lock the upper and lower ends of the frame member 20 and is a rod-shaped member that extends from the upper end to the lower end. Specifically, the shaft member 10 has an upper shaft portion 11 (part of the rotation axis) that extends upward at its upper end, and an upper end receiving portion 13 that locks the upper end of the frame member 20 is provided slightly below the upper shaft portion 11. The shaft member 10 also has a lower shaft portion 12 (part of the rotation axis) that extends downward at its lower end, and a lower end receiving portion 14 that locks the lower end of the frame member 20 is provided slightly above the lower shaft portion 12.

[0029] The upper part 11 and lower part 12 of the shaft may be provided with grooves or recesses, and the filter holder 110 may be provided with protrusions that engage with these grooves or recesses. By the upper part 11 and lower part 12 of the shaft catching on the filter holder 110, it is possible to prevent the shaft member 10 from detaching from the filter holder 110 due to water flow during washing.

[0030] In the shaft member 10, the section from the upper end receiving portion 13 to the lower end receiving portion 14 is connected by a rod-shaped portion 15 that extends from the upper shaft portion 11 and the lower shaft portion 12. A bent portion 15a is provided in the middle of the rod-shaped portion 15, which is bent toward the inside of the filter net 30 (the surface side of the lint filter 1). In other words, a part of the rod-shaped portion 15 is bent so as to protrude toward the surface side of the lint filter 1 (the right side in Figure 6).

[0031] The upper end receiving portion 13 is provided with a locking hole 13a into which a locking claw 22a (see Figure 8, described later) provided on the frame member 20 is inserted. In this embodiment, two locking holes 13a are provided on the upper end receiving portion 13, but the invention is not limited to this, and the number of locking holes 13a may be changed to match the number of locking claws 22a.

[0032] The lower end receiving portion 14 is provided with a lower end side wall portion 14a (an example of a side wall portion) that extends upward from a part of the outer circumference. The shape of the lower end side wall portion 14a will be explained with reference to Figures 8 to 10, along with the frame member 20 which will be described later.

[0033] Figure 8 is a front view showing the frame member, Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the frame member, and Figure 10 is an enlarged side view showing the upper end of the frame member. In Figures 8 to 10, the frame member 20 is shown with the filter net 30 removed for the sake of readability.

[0034] The frame member 20 has a net fixing portion 21 that surrounds the opening 21a. Above the net fixing portion 21 is an upper frame end portion 22 that engages with the upper end receiving portion 13 of the shaft member 10, and below the net fixing portion 21 is a lower frame end portion 23 that engages with the lower end receiving portion 14 of the shaft member 10. As shown in Figure 11, which will be described later, when the frame member 20 is attached to the shaft member 10, the upper surface of the upper frame end portion 22 abuts against the upper end receiving portion 13, and the lower surface of the lower frame end portion 23 abuts against the lower end receiving portion 14. In other words, the frame member 20 attached to the shaft member 10 fits between the upper end receiving portion 13 and the lower end receiving portion 14.

[0035] The upper surface of the upper end portion 22 of the frame is provided with a locking claw 22a that protrudes upward. The locking claw 22a is positioned to correspond to the locking hole 13a of the shaft member 10, and when the frame member 20 is attached to the shaft member 10, the locking claw 22a fits into the locking hole 13a, thereby locking the upper end portion 22 of the frame to the upper end receiving portion 13. Note that the structure for the shaft member 10 to lock the frame member 20 is not limited to the combination of the locking hole 13a and the locking claw 22a (an example of a locking part), and protrusions, grooves, or uneven surfaces may be used as appropriate. In this way, by providing multiple locking parts, the frame member 20 can be firmly locked.

[0036] The net fixing portion 21 and the upper frame end portion 22 are connected via an elastically deformable portion 22c. The elastically deformable portion 22c connects only the back sides of the net fixing portion 21 and the upper frame end portion 22, and a gap is provided on the front sides of the net fixing portion 21 and the upper frame end portion 22. Therefore, when the front side of the upper frame end portion 22 is pressed from above, the upper frame end portion 22 deforms and is pushed down so as to fit into the gap provided between it and the net fixing portion 21. By pushing down the upper frame end portion 22, the locking between the locking hole 13a and the locking claw 22a is released. In other words, the elastically deformable portion 22c is a part that deforms when pressed and releases the locking between the frame member 20 and the shaft member 10. In this way, by providing the elastically deformable portion 22c, the frame member 20 can be easily removed from the shaft member 10. In this embodiment, the elastically deformable portion 22c is provided so as to connect the back sides of the net fixing portion 21 and the upper frame end portion 22. As a result, a gap is provided on the surface side as described above, allowing the surface side of the upper frame end 22, away from the elastically deformable portion 22c, to be pressed with light force. Also, because a gap is provided on the surface side, the surface side of the upper frame end 22 can be easily grasped, making it easier to apply force. As a result, the frame member 20 can be easily removed from the shaft member 10 with less force. The elastically deformable portion 22c may also be provided so as to connect the side surfaces of the net fixing portion 21 and the upper frame end 22.

[0037] The lower end portion 23 of the frame is shaped to fit inside the lower end side wall portion 14a provided on the lower end receiving portion 14. In this way, by fitting the lower end portion 23 of the frame into the lower end side wall portion 14a so that it fits inside the lower end side wall portion 14a, the movement of the frame member 20 can be suppressed.

[0038] The frame member 20 is provided with a notch into which the shaft member 10 is fitted. Specifically, the upper end 22 of the frame has an upper notch 22b on its back side that corresponds to the shape of the rod-shaped portion 15, and the lower end 23 of the frame has a lower notch 23b on its back side that corresponds to the shape of the rod-shaped portion 15. By fitting the shaft member 10 into the notch in this way, the shaft member 10 and the frame member 20 are brought into close contact, and the movement of the frame member 20 can be suppressed. The notch can be provided in the frame member 20 at a suitable location where it contacts the shaft member 10, or it may be provided in the net fixing portion 21.

[0039] Figure 11 is a side view showing the frame member attached to the shaft member, and Figure 12 is a top view showing the frame member attached to the shaft member. In Figure 12, the cross-section of the part of the filter holder 110 facing the opening 21a is schematically shown with a dashed line.

[0040] As described above, the frame member 20 is attached to the shaft member 10 by fitting the lower end portion 23 of the frame into the lower end receiving portion 14 and locking the lower end, and by locking the upper end portion 22 of the frame into the upper end receiving portion 13. When the frame member 20 is attached to the shaft member 10, a part of the rod-shaped portion 15 protrudes outward from the net fixing portion 21.

[0041] On the back side of the lint filter 1, as shown in Figure 12, there is a gap between it and the filter holder 110, allowing the lint filter 1 to rotate (in the direction of arrow R). Therefore, when the direction of the water flow in the washing tub 101 changes, the lint filter 1 rotates relative to the filter holder 110, pivoting on its axis of rotation. As a result, the gap between the lint filter 1 and the filter holder 110 widens, making it easier for water to enter the filter net 30, and allowing for efficient collection of lint (lint). Furthermore, as described above, the frame member 20 can be removed from the shaft member 10, so the filter net 30 can be easily attached and detached while the shaft member 10 remains attached to the filter holder 110. Moreover, since the rotating shaft that locks to the filter holder 110 is provided only on the shaft member 10, the frame member 20 can be removed without having to insert or remove the rotating shaft.

[0042] As described above, by bending the rod-shaped portion 15 facing the opening 21a into which water enters inward, the gap can be widened, making it easier for water to enter. In addition, the bent portion 15a makes it easier to bend the shaft member 10, making it easier to insert and remove the rotating shaft from the filter holder 110.

[0043] As shown in Figure 12, the upper end receiving portion 13 of the shaft member 10 may be made to overlap with a part of the upper end portion 22 of the frame member 20, and a portion of the upper surface of the upper end portion 22 may be exposed. When a part of the upper end portion 22 is exposed, it becomes easier to release the lock between the upper end portion 22 and the upper end receiving portion 13 by pressing on the exposed portion.

[0044] (Second Embodiment) Next, a lint filter according to the second embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the shaft member 10 and the frame member 20 differs from that of the first embodiment. Note that, for the second embodiment, the same matters as in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 12 will be omitted from the explanation, and only the differences will be described.

[0045] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram showing the shaft member and frame member of a lint filter according to the second embodiment of this disclosure.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the shaft member 10 is configured to lock one end of the frame member 20 in the axial direction, and a rotating shaft extends from one end of the shaft member 10. Specifically, in this embodiment, the shaft member 10 locks the upper end 22 of the frame member 20, and a rotating shaft (lower end shaft portion 24) that is attached to the filter holder 110 is provided at the lower end 23 of the frame member 20. The lower end shaft portion 24 only needs to be provided so as to overlap with the upper shaft portion 11 provided on the shaft member 10 when viewed from above, and the lint filter 1 is pivotally supported by the filter holder 110 with the upper shaft portion 11 and the lower end shaft portion 24.

[0047] The shaft member 10 is structured similarly to the first embodiment, with an upper end receiving portion 13 to lock the upper end portion 22 of the frame, and a locking hole 13a and a locking claw 22a are provided as locking parts to lock the two together. In addition, the upper end receiving portion 13 is provided with an upper end side wall portion 13b (an example of a side wall portion) that extends downward from a part of the outer circumference, and the movement of the frame member 20 may be suppressed by pressing the area around the upper end portion 22 of the frame with the upper end side wall portion 13b.

[0048] In this embodiment, when removing the frame member 20, only one end of the rotating shaft needs to be inserted and removed, so the filter net 30 can be easily attached and detached. Furthermore, the shaft member 10 may be provided with grooves or recesses to prevent it from detaching from the filter holder 110 when the frame member 20 is removed, thereby securing it to the filter holder 110.

[0049] (Third embodiment) Next, a lint filter according to the third embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the third embodiment, the configuration of the shaft member 10 and the frame member 20 differs from that of the second embodiment. Note that, for the third embodiment, the same matters as those in the first and second embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 13 will be omitted from the explanation, and only the differences will be described.

[0050] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing the shaft member and frame member of a lint filter according to the third embodiment of this disclosure.

[0051] The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the shaft member 10 locks the lower end 23 of the frame member 20 instead of the upper end 22 of the frame member 20. Specifically, in this embodiment, the shaft member 10 locks the lower end 23 of the frame member 20, and the upper end 22 of the frame member 20 is provided with a rotating shaft (upper shaft portion 25) that is attached to the filter holder 110. The upper shaft portion 25, like the lower shaft portion 24, only needs to be provided so as to overlap with the lower shaft portion 12 provided on the shaft member 10 when viewed from above, and the lint filter 1 is pivotally supported by the filter holder 110 with the lower shaft portion 12 and the upper shaft portion 25.

[0052] The shaft member 10 is structured in the same way as in the first embodiment, with a lower end receiving portion 14 to lock the lower end portion 23 of the frame, and a lower end side wall portion 14a may be provided as a locking portion to lock the two together. The lower end receiving portion 14 may also be configured to lock the lower end portion 23 of the frame by providing claws or holes, similar to the upper end receiving portion 13.

[0053] (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a lint filter according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the shaft member 10 and the frame member 20 differs from that of the first embodiment. Note that, for the fourth embodiment, the same matters as those in the first to third embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 14 will be omitted from the explanation, and only the differences will be described.

[0054] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing the shaft member and frame member of a lint filter according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure.

[0055] The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the upper and lower ends of the shaft member 10 are connected via a frame portion 16 instead of by a rod portion 15. Specifically, the frame portion 16 of the shaft member 10 is provided so as to surround the outside of the opening 21a of the frame member 20, and its upper and lower ends are connected to the upper end receiving portion 13 and the lower end receiving portion 14, respectively. The frame member 20 is locked to the upper end receiving portion 13 and the lower end receiving portion 14, similar to the first embodiment, and the upper shaft portion 11 extending from the upper end receiving portion 13 and the lower shaft portion 12 extending from the lower end receiving portion 14 are pivotally supported by the filter holder 110. In this way, since both ends of the shaft member 10 are connected via the frame portion 16, it is possible to create a structure that does not obstruct water entering the opening 21a and makes it difficult for the shaft member 10 to detach.

[0056] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and do not constitute a limiting interpretation. Accordingly, the technical scope of this disclosure is not to be interpreted solely by the embodiments described above, but is defined based on the claims. This includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalents to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Lint filter 10 Shaft member 20 Frame members 30 FilterNet 100 Washing Machines 101 Washing machine tub 110 Filter holder

Claims

1. A lint filter that is removable from a filter holder provided in the washing machine drum, A shaft member having a rotating shaft that is attached to the filter holder, A frame member having an opening is detachably secured to the shaft member, The frame member comprises a bag-shaped filter net attached to the opening of the frame member. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

2. A lint filter according to claim 1, When the direction along the aforementioned rotation axis is defined as the axial direction, The shaft member locks both ends of the frame member in the axial direction, The rotating shaft extends from both ends of the shaft member in the axial direction. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

3. A lint filter according to claim 2, The shaft member has a rod-shaped portion connecting both ends in the axial direction, The rod-shaped portion has a bent portion that faces the opening of the frame member and is bent toward the inside of the filter net. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

4. A lint filter according to claim 2, The shaft member is connected at both ends in the axial direction via a frame portion that surrounds the outside of the opening of the frame member. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

5. A lint filter according to claim 1, The frame member has a locking portion that engages with the shaft member, It has an elastically deformable part that deforms when pressed, releasing the locking between the locking part and the shaft member. The locking portion is located on the surface side of the elastically deformable portion. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

6. A lint filter according to claim 1, The frame member has a notch into which the shaft member is fitted. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

7. A lint filter according to claim 1, The shaft member has a side wall portion that surrounds the end of the frame member, The end of the frame member is shaped to match the side wall portion. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

8. A lint filter according to claim 1, When the direction along the aforementioned rotation axis is defined as the axial direction, The shaft member locks one end of the frame member in the axial direction, The rotational shaft extends from one end of the shaft member in the axial direction, The other end of the frame member in the axial direction is provided with a rotating shaft that is attached to the filter holder. A lint filter characterized by the following features.

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