washing machine
The washing machine design with a restricting member and protruding portions effectively prevents power cord damage by evenly distributing tensile stress, improving durability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHARP KK
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-02
AI Technical Summary
The power cord of a washing machine is prone to damage and disconnection due to tensile stress.
A washing machine design that includes a housing with a plate-like portion and a restricting member having a through hole and protruding portions to securely hold the power cord, distributing stress evenly to prevent damage.
The power cord is less likely to be damaged or disconnected, enhancing its durability and reliability.
Smart Images
Figure 2026109756000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0007] ,
[0001] This disclosure relates to a washing machine.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an example of a fixing device for the power cord of a washing machine.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] For example, tensile stress may be applied to the power cord of a washing machine. Therefore, it is required that the power cord is not easily damaged and does not break even when tensile stress is applied to the power cord.
[0005] One object of this disclosure is to provide a new washing machine in which, for example, the power cord is not easily damaged or disconnected.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] In one aspect of this disclosure, a washing machine includes a housing having a plate-like portion in which an insertion opening is formed, a power cord inserted into the insertion opening, and a restricting member attached to the insertion opening of the plate-like portion and restricting displacement of the power cord with respect to the plate-like portion. The restricting member has a restricting member main body having a through hole into which the power cord is inserted and extending along a first direction, and a plurality of protruding portions each protruding from the inner surface of the restricting member main body toward the power cord side and having an elongated shape inclined with respect to the first direction, and the plurality of protruding portions are arranged in the first direction.
Effects of the Invention
[0007] According to this disclosure, for example, it is possible to provide a new washing machine in which the power cord is less prone to damage or breakage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine. [Figure 2] This is a schematic plan view of a washing machine. [Figure 3] This is a schematic rear view, magnified, of the power cord attachment area, as seen from arrow III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a schematic cross-sectional view along line IV-IV in Figure 3. [Figure 5] This is a schematic cross-sectional view along line VV in Figure 3. [Figure 6] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the power cord attachment area in the first modified example. [Figure 7] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the power cord attachment area in the second modified example. [Figure 8] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the power cord attachment area in the third modified example. [Figure 9] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the power cord attachment area in the fourth modified example, magnified. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a washing machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially common functions will be referred to by the same reference numerals and used in the explanation. In the following description, the side of the washing machine 1 on which the lid 12 is provided will be referred to as the front, and the opposite side as the rear. The front-to-back direction may be referred to as the depth direction. The right and left sides are directions when viewing the washing machine 1 from the front to the rear. The left-to-right direction may be referred to as the width direction. The direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the width direction will be referred to as the height direction.
[0010] In this disclosure, "washing machine" refers to all equipment that performs various processes on laundry. Examples of processes performed by a washing machine include washing, drying, deodorizing, and disinfecting. The laundry is not particularly limited. Examples of laundry include textile products. Specific examples of laundry include clothing such as clothes, hats, and gloves; personal belongings such as shoes, bags, handkerchiefs, and towels; bedding such as curtains, blankets, towels, and duvet covers; carpets; stuffed animals; and more.
[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of washing machine 1. Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of washing machine 1.
[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the washing machine 1 has a housing 10. As shown in Figure 3, the housing 10 houses a tub into which water, detergents and other chemicals, and laundry are poured. The tub is a so-called bottomed cylindrical shape with one end closed. The housing 10 houses the tub so that its opening is exposed. The opening of the tub, which is exposed from the housing 10, can be opened and closed by a lid 12.
[0013] In this embodiment, the central axis of the drum extends along the vertical direction. A washing machine 1 having a drum in this configuration may be referred to as a vertical washing machine. However, this disclosure is not limited to this configuration. In this disclosure, the washing machine may be, for example, a so-called drum-type washing machine having a drum with a central axis along the horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to both the horizontal and vertical directions.
[0014] The tank may consist of, for example, a single tank. Alternatively, the tank may consist of, for example, multiple tanks including an outer tank and an inner tank arranged concentrically.
[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic rear view, enlarged, of a portion of the back of the washing machine 1 as seen from arrow III in Figure 1. Specifically, Figure 3 is a schematic rear view, enlarged, of the power cord attachment area of the washing machine 1. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view along line IV-IV in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along line VV in Figure 3.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the washing machine 1 has a power cord 20. The power cord 20 is connected to a power supply unit (not shown) provided inside the washing machine 1. The washing machine 1 is driven by the power supplied through the power cord 20.
[0017] The power cord 20 is drawn out from the washing machine 1 to the back side. As shown in FIG. 3, it is drawn out from the attachment portion 10a to the outside of the washing machine 1 among the portions located on the back side of the housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment portion 10a is a plate-shaped portion. Specifically, the attachment portion 10a is composed of a metal plate or a plastic plate.
[0018] An insertion port 10a1 for the power cord 20 is formed in the attachment portion 10a of the power cord 20 of the housing 10. The insertion port 10a1 penetrates the plate-shaped attachment portion 10a in the thickness direction of the attachment portion 10a. The inside of the housing 10 and the outside of the washing machine 1 are connected by this insertion port 10a1.
[0019] The power cord 20 includes at least one conductive wire having conductivity and an insulating cover covering the at least one conductive wire. The conductive wire is composed of, for example, a metal such as copper, iron, nickel, aluminum, or an alloy containing at least one of these metals. The insulating cover has electrical insulation. The insulating cover is preferably composed of, for example, at least one of elasticity and viscosity such as rubber. The insulating cover is preferably composed of, for example, an elastic body, a viscous body, a viscoelastic body having both viscosity and elasticity, or the like.
[0020] The power cord 20 is inserted into the insertion port 10a1. The displacement of the power cord 20 with respect to the attachment portion 10a of the housing 10 is substantially restricted by the restricting member 30. The power cord 20 is substantially fixed to the attachment portion 10a by the restricting member 30 so as not to be displaceable.
[0021] The restricting member 30 is preferably made of, for example, resin or metal. The restricting member 30 is preferably made of lower rigidity than the mounting portion 10a. Furthermore, the restricting member 30 is preferably made of higher rigidity than the insulating cover that forms the outer surface layer of the power cord 20. For this reason, for example, it is preferable that the mounting portion 10a is made of a metal plate, the insulating cover is made of rubber, and the restricting member 30 is made of a resin material including resin.
[0022] The restricting member 30 has a substantially cylindrical restricting member body 31. The thickness of the restricting member body 31 along the depth direction W is greater than the thickness of the mounting portion 10a along the depth direction W. Preferably, the thickness of the restricting member body 31 along the depth direction W is 1.5 times or more, and more preferably 2 times or more, the thickness of the mounting portion 10a along the depth direction W.
[0023] A recess 31a1 is formed on the outer circumferential surface 31a of the regulating member body 31. The recess 31a1 is an annular recess provided in an annular shape over the entire circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface 31a. A plate-shaped mounting portion 10a is inserted into this annular recess 31a1. The portion of the regulating member body 31 with the recess 31a1 is fitted into the mounting portion 10a. Thus, the regulating member 30 is fixed to the mounting portion 10a. The regulating member 30 is substantially immobile in the depth direction W, which is the thickness direction of the mounting portion 10a, relative to the mounting portion 10a.
[0024] A through-hole 31b is formed in the regulating member body 31. The through-hole 31b extends along the thickness direction (depth direction W in this embodiment) of the mounting portion 10a, which is the first direction. The shape of the through-hole 31b is substantially equal to the outer shape of the power cord 20. The outer diameters of the through-hole 31b and the power cord 20 may be, for example, cylindrical. In that case, the diameter of the through-hole 31b is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the power cord 20. The power cord 20 is inserted into and fixed in this through-hole 31b.
[0025] The restricting member 30 has a plurality of protrusions 32. Each of the plurality of protrusions 32 is provided on the inner surface (specifically, the inner circumferential surface) of the restricting member body 31. Each of the plurality of protrusions 32 protrudes from the inner surface of the restricting member body 31 into the through hole 31b toward the power cord 20. Each of the plurality of protrusions 32 bites into the insulating cover (outer layer) of the power cord 20. The plurality of protrusions 32 and the power cord 20 are engaged by the plurality of protrusions 32. The displacement of the power cord 20 is mainly restricted by this engagement between the plurality of protrusions 32 and the power cord 20.
[0026] The number of protrusions 32 on the restricting member 30 is preferably 2 to 5, and more preferably 2 to 4. The restricting member 30 may be provided integrally, or it may be an assembly of multiple restricting member pieces.
[0027] The multiple protrusions 32 are arranged at intervals from one another along the depth direction W. In this embodiment, the multiple protrusions 32 are arranged at equal intervals along the depth direction W.
[0028] As primarily shown in Figure 5, each of the multiple protrusions 32 has an elongated portion that is inclined with respect to the depth direction W. The elongated portion is inclined with respect to both the depth direction W and the height direction. Each of the multiple protrusions 32 may have other parts in addition to the inclined elongated portion, for example, but in this embodiment, it is substantially composed only of the inclined elongated portion. Specifically, in this embodiment, each of the multiple protrusions 32 is provided in an annular shape that extends diagonally downward toward the front. Each of the multiple protrusions 32 is provided around the entire circumference of the power cord 20.
[0029] In this embodiment, each of the multiple protrusions 32 has an elongated portion that is inclined with respect to the depth direction W and the height direction H, respectively. Therefore, compared to, for example, the case where the protrusions of the regulating member are provided along the depth direction W and the height direction H, the area adjacent between the protrusions 32 and the power cord in the depth direction W can be increased. As a result, when tensile stress is applied to the power cord 20 along the depth direction W, the stress is less likely to concentrate at a specific point on the power cord 20, and the stress is distributed. Consequently, the power cord 20 is less likely to be damaged or broken.
[0030] From the viewpoint of increasing the area where the projection 32 and the power cord are adjacent in the depth direction W, and more effectively distributing the stress applied to the power cord 20, the angle θ between the elongated portion of the projection 32 and the depth direction W is preferably less than 90°, more preferably 70° or less, and even more preferably 600° or less. It is even more preferable that the angle between the elongated portion of the projection 32 and the depth direction W is acute. However, if θ is too small, the dimension of the regulating member 30 along the depth direction W may become too large. Therefore, θ is preferably 10° or more, and even more preferably 20° or more.
[0031] From a similar viewpoint, it is preferable that the multiple protrusions 32 include protrusions provided around the entire circumference of the power cord 20, and it is more preferable that each of the multiple protrusions 32 is provided around the entire circumference of the power cord 20.
[0032] Modifications of the above embodiments will be described below. Components having substantially the same function as those in the above embodiments will be referred to by the same reference numerals, and the descriptions in the above embodiments will be applied accordingly.
[0033] (First variation) Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the power cord attachment area in the first modified example.
[0034] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the plurality of protrusions 32 are annular in shape, extending upward or downward toward the front. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in the first modified example in Figure 6, at least one of the plurality of protrusions 32 may have a plurality of elongated portions whose longitudinal directions are mutually different. Specifically in the first modified example, each of the plurality of protrusions 32 has a portion that extends diagonally downward toward the front and a portion that extends diagonally upward toward the front. In this case, the dimension along the depth direction W of the region where each protrusion 32 is provided can be shortened. Therefore, the dimension of the regulating member 30 in the depth direction W can be shortened. More protrusions 32 can be provided on the regulating member 30.
[0035] (Second variation) Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the power cord attachment area in the second modified example.
[0036] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which a plurality of protrusions 32 are provided at equal intervals along the depth direction W. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in the second modified example in Figure 7, a plurality of protrusions 32 may be provided at random intervals along the depth direction W. Specifically, in the second modified example, a first protrusion 32a, a second protrusion 32b, and a third protrusion 32c are provided as the plurality of protrusions 32. The second protrusion 32b and the third protrusion 32c are adjacent to the first protrusion 32a in the depth direction W. The distance along the depth direction W between the first protrusion 32a and the second protrusion 32b is different from the distance along the depth direction between the first protrusion 32a and the third protrusion 32c. The distance along the depth direction W between the first protrusion 32a and the second protrusion 32b is longer than the distance along the depth direction between the first protrusion 32a and the third protrusion 32c. Therefore, the rigidity of the portion of the power cord 20 located between the first projection 32a and the second projection 32b in the depth direction W is higher than the rigidity of the portion located between the first projection 32a and the third projection 32c. For example, when stress is applied to the power cord 20, the portion located between the first projection 32a and the third projection 32c, which has relatively low rigidity, is more likely to deform or be damaged. Even if the portion located between the first projection 32a and the third projection 32c undergoes plastic deformation or is damaged, the portion located between the first projection 32a and the second projection 32b, which has relatively high rigidity, is less likely to undergo plastic deformation or be damaged, thus still being able to suppress damage to the power cord 20. For this reason, the durability of the power cord 20 can be further improved.
[0037] (Third variation) Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the power cord attachment area in the third modified example.
[0038] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the dimensions of the multiple protrusions 32 along the depth direction W are equal to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in the third modified example in Figure 8, the multiple protrusions 32 may include multiple protrusions whose dimensions along the depth direction W are different from each other. In other words, at least two of the multiple protrusions 32 may have different dimensions along the depth direction W. In this example as well, the durability of the power cord 20 can be further improved.
[0039] (Fourth variation) Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the power cord attachment area in the fourth modified example.
[0040] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the multiple protrusions 32 are parallel to each other in a side view. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in the fourth modified example in Figure 9, the multiple protrusions 32 may include, for example, multiple types of protrusions whose longitudinal directions of the elongated portions are different from each other. In the fourth modified example, the multiple protrusions include an annular fourth protrusion 32d extending diagonally downward toward the front and an annular fifth protrusion 32e extending diagonally downward toward the rear. In this example as well, the durability of the power cord 20 can be further improved.
[0041] From the viewpoint of further improving the durability of the power cord 20, it is preferable that, for example, in the multiple types of protrusions 32d, 32e whose longitudinal directions of the elongated portions are mutually different, the size of the angle θ formed between the depth direction W and the direction in which the elongated portion extends is mutually different. That is, it is preferable that the multiple protrusions 32 include, for example, multiple types of protrusions 32d, 32e whose longitudinal directions of the elongated portions are mutually different, and whose size of the angle formed between the longitudinal direction of the elongated portion and the depth direction W is mutually different.
[0042] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are intended to be included. Configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described herein are also included in the scope of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0043] 1: Washing machine 10: Cabinet 10a: Power cord connection part 20: Power cord 30: Regulating member 31: Main body of the regulatory component 31a1: recess 31b: Through hole 32:Protrusion
Claims
1. A housing having a plate-shaped portion with an insertion opening formed therein, The power cord inserted into the aforementioned port, A restricting member is attached to the insertion opening of the plate-shaped portion and restricts the displacement of the power cord relative to the plate-shaped portion, Equipped with, The aforementioned restraining member is The regulating member body has a through hole into which the power cord is inserted and which extends along the first direction, Each of the following protrusions extends from the inner surface of the regulating member body toward the power cord, and includes a plurality of elongated portions with an elongated shape inclined toward the first direction, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged toward the first direction, A washing machine.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the first direction and the longitudinal direction of the elongated portion is an acute angle.
3. The aforementioned multiple protrusions are, The first projection and, Each of the following is a second projection and a third projection adjacent to the first projection in the first direction, Includes, The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein, in the first direction, the distance between the first projection and the second projection and the distance between the first projection and the third projection are different from each other.
4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions include a plurality of types of protrusions whose longitudinal directions are mutually different.
5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions include a plurality of types of protrusions having mutually different thicknesses along the first direction of the elongated portion.
6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions include protrusions provided around the entire circumference of the power cord.
7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions have a plurality of elongated portions, and the plurality of elongated portions include a plurality of elongated portions whose longitudinal directions are different from each other.