LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, and more particularly, to a laundry treating apparatus including a door that opens and closes a laundry inlet.

BACKGROUND

A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that treats laundry, such as clothes and bedding, that are put into a drum. For example, the laundry treating apparatus may perform various treatment processes, such as washing and drying, of the laundry.

The laundry treating apparatus for performing the washing process of the laundry may perform processes, such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying. The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet forming an outer appearance thereof, a tub disposed inside the cabinet, and the drum that is rotatably disposed inside the tub and accommodates the laundry therein.

When the drum rotates by a motor while water is stored in the tub and washing water is supplied to the laundry accommodated in the drum, contaminants may be removed from the laundry by friction between the drum and washing water.

In one example, the laundry treating apparatuses may be classified into a front loading type and a top loading type based on a scheme of putting the laundry into the drum.

In the front loading type, a laundry inlet defined in the cabinet may face forward where a user may be located, the tub and the drum may also be opened forward so that the laundry input via the laundry inlet may be accommodated in the drum, and the drum may rotate around a rotation axis that extends approximately in a front and rear direction.

In the top loading type, the laundry inlet defined in the cabinet may be defined in a top surface facing a ceiling, the tub and the drum may also be opened upward so that the laundry input via the laundry inlet may be accommodated in the drum, and the drum may rotate around a rotation axis that extends approximately in a height direction of the cabinet.

Related document KR 10-2014-0038252 A1 discloses a top loading-type laundry treating apparatus. The top loading-type laundry treating apparatus has a laundry inlet defined in a top surface of a cabinet, and has a door for opening and closing the laundry inlet on the top surface.

In one example, the door may be equipped to pivot as the user lifts a front end thereof while a rear end thereof is pivotably coupled to the cabinet. For example, the user may hold the front end of the door and lift the same to open the laundry inlet and put the laundry, and then hold the front end of the door again and lower the same to close the laundry inlet.

However, the door may include various components such as a panel, and may be subjected to deformation such as a temporary increase in a gap between components when the user holds the front end of the door and applies a force upward or downward or because of vibration or the like caused by the rotation of the drum.

The deformation may cause noise in the door or reduce structural stability, and may cause discomfort to the user.

Therefore, suppressing the change in the gap between the components that constitute the door to reduce the noise occurrence or the like even when the user applies the force to the door to pivot the door or the vibration caused by the rotation of the drum is transmitted to the door is an important task in the present technical field.

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a grip portion on a door that a user may grip.

In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may suppress noise from occurring at a grip portion of a door.

In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may suppress an occurrence of clearance between components of a door.

In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus with improve structural stability as components of a door are stably coupled to each other.

Technical Solutions

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a door handle may have a rib formed thereon to support a door glass. One or more ribs may protrude toward the glass on a seating surface of the door handle on which the door glass is seated, thereby supporting the door glass.

The rib may extend from a step formed on a front surface of the door handle toward a rear surface. The one or more ribs may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined spacing in a width direction of the door handle. The door handle may be formed such that a length in a front and rear direction becomes smaller from a center to a side, and a length of the rib formed at the center may be smaller than a length of the center of the door handle.

A laundry treating apparatus according to such an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet, a laundry accommodating portion, and a door.

The cabinet includes a top surface with a laundry inlet defined therein. The laundry accommodating portion is disposed inside the cabinet and is constructed to accommodate therein laundry inserted via the laundry inlet. The door is disposed on the top surface and opens and closes the laundry inlet.

The door may include a door base, a door panel, and a grip member. The door base may have a rear end pivotably coupled to the top surface and may pivot to be in one of an open state and a closed state of the laundry inlet.

The door panel may be coupled to a top surface of the door base. The grip member may be coupled to a front end of the door base and may be positioned beneath the door panel.

The grip member includes a grip top surface and a support rib. The grip top surface faces a bottom surface of the door panel. The support rib protrudes upward from the grip top surface. The door panel is spaced upwardly apart from the grip top surface and supported by the support rib.

The grip member may extend along a width direction of the cabinet, and the door panel may have a front end supported by the support rib. The support rib may extend rearward from a front end of the grip member, and may include a plurality of support ribs spaced apart from each other along a width direction of the cabinet.

One of the plurality of support ribs may have a length extending rearward from the front end of the grip member different from a length of another support rib. The plurality of support ribs may include a first support rib and a second support rib.

The first support rib may extend rearward from the front end of the grip member by a first length. The second support rib may extend rearward from the front end of the grip member by a second length greater than the first length.

The second support rib may be positioned farther away from a center of the grip member than the first support rib based on the width direction. The second support rib may include a plurality of second support ribs respectively disposed on both sides of the first support rib in the width direction.

A front end of the grip member may include a front limiting portion positioned in front of the door panel and constructed to limit a forward movement of the door panel. The front limiting portion may protrude upward from the grip top surface and support a front end of the door panel rearward.

The support rib may extend rearward from the front limiting portion. The grip top surface may include a first top surface and a second top surface positioned rearward of the first top surface, and the second top surface may be formed in a stepped manner so as to be positioned lower than the first top surface,

The plurality of support ribs may include a first support rib having a rear end positioned on the first top surface, and a second support rib having a rear end positioned on the second top surface.

The first support rib may extend from the front limiting portion to a rear end of the first top surface, and the second support rib may extend from the front limiting portion to a rear end of the second top surface.

The second support rib may include a pair of second support ribs, and the first support rib may be disposed on the first top surface between the pair of second support ribs, and a grip coupling portion coupled with the door base may be defined in the second top surface.

The front limiting portion may have a curved shape where both ends are positioned rearward of a center based on a width direction of the cabinet, the second support rib may include a plurality of second support ribs spaced apart from each other along the width direction, and extension lengths of the second support ribs may decrease in a direction away from the center of the front limiting portion.

The door base may include a door opening facing the laundry inlet, and the door panel may include a light transmitting portion covering the door opening and allowing light to pass therethrough.

The door base may include a door opening facing the laundry inlet, and a base space open upward may be defined in at least a portion of a periphery surrounding the door opening.

The grip member may cover at least a portion of the base space. The grip member may cover a front portion of the base space located in front of the door opening.

The door may further include a side member covering a side portion of the base space located on each of both sides of the door opening.

The door base may include a lower protrusion protruding toward the grip member in the base space, and the grip member may include an upper protrusion protruding toward the lower protrusion and coupled to the lower protrusion.

The lower protrusion may include a first lower protrusion and a second lower protrusion positioned rearward of the first lower protrusion, and the upper protrusion may include a first upper protrusion in contact with the first lower protrusion and a second lower protrusion positioned rearward of the first upper protrusion and in contact with the second lower protrusion.

The front end of the door base may be recessed rearward under the grip member to define a grip space for a user to grip. The front end of the door base may include a grip bottom surface spaced downwardly apart from a front end of the grip member and protruding forward to define a grip space with the grip member therebetween for a user to grip together.

Advantageous Effects

The embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus having the grip portion on the door that the user may grip.

In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that may suppress the noise from occurring at the grip portion of the door.

In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that may suppress the occurrence of the clearance between the components of the door.

In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus with the improved structural stability as the components of the door are stably coupled to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a top surface of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a top surface of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a door in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating a door in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a door in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a door panel covering a door opening of a door base in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a door in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a grip member of a door in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a top view illustrating a grip member of a door in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a grip member cut along a line A-A in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a grip member cut along a line B-B in FIG. 11.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail so as to be easily practiced by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and may not be limited to the embodiment described herein. In addition, to clearly illustrate the present disclosure in the drawings, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are given similar reference numerals throughout the present document.

In the present document, redundant descriptions of the same components are omitted.

Further, in the present document, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected with” another element, the element may be directly connected with the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, in the present document, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “directly connected with” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Further, terms used herein are only used to describe a specific embodiment, and are not used as a limitation of the present disclosure.

Further, in the present document, a singular representation may include a plural representation unless it represents a definitely different meaning from the context.

Further, the terms such as “include” or “have” used herein are intended to indicate that features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof used in the following description exist and it should be thus understood that the possibility of existence or addition of one or more different features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof is not excluded.

Further, in the present document, the term ‘and/or’ includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality of listed items. Herein, ‘A or B’ may include ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘both A and B’.

FIG. 1 illustrates an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 10.

The cabinet 10 may form an outer appearance of the laundry treating apparatus 1, and may have a space defined therein for components such as a tub 20 and a drum 30 to be embedded. The cabinet 10 may include a top surface 11 in which a laundry inlet 12 is defined.

Specifically, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cabinet 10 may include a body 15 and the top surface 11. The body 15 may be formed in a box shape with an open top surface, and may include the drum 30 and the tub 20 therein.

The top surface 11 may be disposed at an upper portion of the body 15. The top surface 11 may be disposed to cover the open top surface of the body 15 and may form the outer appearance of the laundry treating apparatus 1 together with the body 15.

The top surface 11 may form a top surface of the laundry treating apparatus 1 and may include the laundry inlet 12. The laundry inlet 12 may be an opening that allows interior and exterior of the cabinet 10 to be in communication with each other, and a user may put laundry into the cabinet 10 via the laundry inlet 12.

The laundry inlet 12 may be defined in a top surface of the cabinet 10 defined by the top surface 11. That is, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be of a top loading type in which the laundry inlet 12 is defined in the top surface and a rotation axis of the drum 30 is approximately vertical to the ground.

The top surface 11 may include a control panel 13 and/or a rear part 14 in addition to the laundry inlet 12. For example, the control panel 13 may be positioned in front of the laundry inlet 12 on the top surface 11, and the rear part 14 may be positioned at the rear of the laundry inlet 12.

However, the location of the control panel 13 may not be necessarily limited to the location in front of the laundry inlet 12, and when the control panel 13 is positioned at the rear of the laundry inlet 12, a front part may be defined in front of the laundry inlet 12.

The control panel 13 may be equipped to provide information to the user or to receive a command from the user. For example, the control panel 13 may include an output unit that may output various information such as a screen and sound, and an input unit that may receive the user's command in various ways such as a touch panel, a mechanical button, and a touch-type button, and a microphone.

The rear part 14 may cover various components disposed at a rear side of the top surface 11. For example, a rear space in which the various components are embedded may be defined at the rear side of the top surface 11, and the rear part 14 may be coupled to the rear side of the top surface 11 to shield the rear space.

In one example, a door 100 may be disposed on the top surface 11. The door 100 may be pivotably coupled to the top surface 11 and may open and close the laundry inlet 12. The door 100 may be pivoted to be in either an open state of being pivoted away from the laundry inlet 12 or a closed state of being pivoted to be in close contact with the laundry inlet 12.

The door 100 may be disposed between the control panel 13 and the rear part 14, a rear end 220 thereof may be pivotably coupled to the top surface 11, and a front end thereof may be pivoted to move away from or closer to the laundry inlet 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates interior of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, an interior configuration of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as follows.

The tub 20 may have a cylindrical shape in which a space is defined inside. The tub 20 may accommodate water therein and may include a tub inlet 25 open toward the laundry inlet 12 defined in a top surface thereof.

The laundry put into the cabinet 10 via the laundry inlet 12 may be moved into the tub 20 via the tub inlet 25. The tub 20 may be fixed in position inside the cabinet 10 via a tub support 80.

However, the tub support 80 may include an elastic body to reduce transmission of vibration from the tub 20 to the cabinet 10, like a suspension. The tub 20 may be positioned not to come into contact with the cabinet 10 because of the tub support 80, and may be formed in a suspended form via the tub support 80.

The drum 30 may be disposed inside the tub 20. The drum 30 may have a cylindrical shape in which a space is defined inside, and may have a drum inlet 35 open toward the tub inlet 25 and the laundry inlet 12 in a top surface thereof.

The laundry input via the laundry inlet 12 may pass through the tub inlet 25 and the drum inlet 35 and be accommodated inside the drum 30. A plurality of holes may be defined in a circumferential surface of the drum 30, and thus, water stored in the tub 20 may be shared within the drum 30 and provided to the laundry. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the drum 30 may be named a laundry accommodating portion in that it accommodates the laundry therein.

The drum 30 may be rotatably disposed within the tub 20. The drum 30 may be connected to a driver 70 via a driving shaft, and a driving force of the driver 70 may be transmitted to rotate the drum 30.

The driver 70 may be disposed outside the tub 20 and beneath the tub 20 and be connected to the drum 30. The driver 70 may include a motor that generates the driving force and a transmission that is connected to the motor and adjusts a rotational force.

The driving shaft may connect the driver 70 with the drum 30, and an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a top loading type in which the driving shaft is approximately vertical to the ground.

A water supplier 40 may be connected to an external water supply source that is disposed outside the cabinet 10 and supplies water. The water supplier 40 may supply water delivered from the external water supply source to a detergent unit 50 and/or the tub 20. The water supplier 40 may be disposed on the top surface 11 or the body 15 described above.

The detergent unit 50 may store detergent supplied by the user. The detergent unit 50 may supply the detergent stored by the user together with water or alone to the tub 20 during a washing course of the laundry. The detergent unit 50 may be disposed on the top surface 11 described above.

A drainage 60 may be connected to the tub 20 and selectively discharge water stored in the tub 20 to the outside of the cabinet 10. The drainage 60 may include a drainage pipe connected to the tub 20 and a drainage pump disposed on the drainage pipe.

FIG. 3 illustrates the top surface 11 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the top surface 11.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the top surface 11 may define the top surface of the cabinet 10 as described above and may include the control panel 13, the door 100, the rear part 14, and the like.

Specifically, the top surface 11 may include a top surface base 1100 coupled with the body 15 of the cabinet 10, and the top surface base 1100 may form a body of the top surface 11. The control panel 13, the door 100, the rear part 14, and the like may be coupled to the top surface base 1100.

The top surface base 1100 may include an accommodating portion formed under the control panel 13. The accommodating portion may accommodate therein various electrical components disposed on the control panel 13, and the control panel 13 may be coupled to the top surface base 1100 to shield the accommodating portion.

The top surface base 1100 may include a rear space defined under the rear part 14. Various components such as the detergent unit 50 described above may be accommodated in the rear space, and the rear part 14 may be coupled to the top surface base 1100 to shield the rear space.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the door 100 of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the door 100.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the door 100 may be disposed on the top surface 11 as described above to open and close the laundry inlet 12. The rear end of the door 100 may be pivotably coupled to the top surface 11, and accordingly, the front end of the door 100 may be pivoted to move away from or closer to the top surface 11.

The door 100 may include various components. The door 100 may include a door base 200 forming a body of the door 100. The door base 200 may have the rear end 220 pivotably coupled to the top surface 11. A door panel 300 for forming an outer appearance of the door 100 may be disposed on a top surface of the door base 200, and a grip member 400, a side member 500, and the like may be disposed at a periphery of the door base 200.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the door 100. Referring to FIG. 7, the rear end 220 of the door base 200 may be pivotably coupled to the top surface base 1100 or the like of the top surface 11 as described above, and a front end 210 thereof may include a grip portion 260 for the user to grip.

Specifically, the door 100 may be pivoted to be in close contact with the top surface 11 and maintained in the closed state except in a situation in which the laundry is inserted. However, the user may pivot the door 100 to insert the laundry or withdraw the laundry.

In this regard, the user may grip and lift the front end 210 of the door base 200, which faces the user and is located on an opposite side of a pivoting shaft, in the door 100. The door 100 may include the grip portion 260 formed to be easily gripped by the user.

The grip portion 260 may include a grip space 262 recessed rearward from the front end 210 of the door base 200, and may include at least a portion of the grip member 400 disposed on the grip space 262.

The grip space 262 may be defined by being recessed rearward at a location under the grip member 400. Accordingly, the user may conveniently pivot the front end 210 of the door base 200 by inserting a finger or the like into the grip space 262 and lifting a front end 430 or the like of the grip member 400 upward.

The front end 430 of the door base 200 may include a grip bottom surface 264 that is spaced downwardly apart from the front end of the grip member 400 and protrudes forward to define the grip space 262 for the user to grip with the grip member 400 therebetween.

Specifically, the front end 210 of the door base 200 may include the grip bottom surface 264 that is positioned beneath the grip space 262 and protrudes forward. The user may lift the front end 210 of the door base 200 by inserting the finger between the front end 430 of the grip member 400 and the grip bottom surface 264.

FIG. 8 illustrates the door panel 300 with a front end 310 supported by a grip panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Specifically, the door base 200 may include a door opening 230 facing the laundry inlet 12. The door opening 230 may at least partially overlap the laundry inlet 12 and may be opened upward.

The door panel 300 may be coupled to the top surface of the door base 200 and shield the door opening 230. The door panel 300 may include a light transmitting portion that covers the door opening 230 and through which light passes.

For example, the door panel 300 may be equipped such that at least a portion of an area overlapping the door opening 230 allows light to pass therethrough, so that the user may visually check the laundry accommodated in the cabinet 10, for example, in the drum 30, even when the door 100 is closed.

The door panel 300 may include a panel made of a material such as glass or plastic and having a light transmitting property, and a remaining area except for the light transmitting portion may be printed on the panel to have a light non-transmitting property, or an opaque film may be attached to the remaining area except for the light transmitting portion to have the light non-transmitting property. However, an entirety of the door panel 300 may have the light transmitting property.

In one example, the grip member 400 may be disposed at the front end 210 of the door base 200 as described above to form a portion of the grip portion 260. In addition, the grip member 400 may be disposed under the front end 310 of the door panel 300 to support the front end 310 of the door panel 300.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the grip member 400 may extend along a width direction Y of the cabinet 10 and may include a support rib 420 protruding upward. The front end 310 of the door panel 300 may be supported by the support rib 420.

In addition, the front end of the grip member 400 may include a front limiting portion 435 protruding upward to support the front end of the door panel 300 rearward. A detailed description of the front limiting portion 435 will be made later.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the door 100. The door 100 may include the aforementioned door base 200, door panel 300, and grip member 400.

The door base 200 may have the rear end 220 pivotably coupled to the top surface 11 and thus may be pivoted to be in either the open state or the closed state of the laundry inlet 12. The door panel 300 may be coupled to the top surface of the door base 200 and shield the door opening 230.

The grip member 400 may be coupled to the front end 210 of the door base 200 and may be positioned under the door panel 300. Here, the front end 210 of the door base 200 may be defined to include at least an area where the grip member 400 is positioned.

The door base 200 may include the door opening 230 facing the laundry inlet 12, and a base space 240 that is open upward may be defined in at least a portion of a periphery surrounding the door opening 230.

The base space 240 may reduce a load of the door base 200 by defining a space inside the door base 200, and may provide a space in which components for coupling the grip member 400 and the like may be disposed.

The grip member 400 may cover at least a portion of the base space 240. For example, the grip member 400 may cover a front portion 241 in the base space 240 located in front of the door opening 230.

In one example, the door 100 may further include the side member 500. The side member 500 may cover side portions 243 in the base space 240 positioned on both sides of the door opening 230.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the door base 200 may have the base space 240 defined in front of and next to the door opening 230. That is, the base space 240 may include the front portion 241 positioned in front of the door opening 230 and the side portions 243 positioned on both sides of the door opening 230 in the periphery of the door opening 230.

The front portion 241 may be shielded by the grip member 400, and the side portion 243 may be shielded by the side member 500. The side member 500 may be at least partially disposed outward of the door panel 300 to form a portion of the outer appearance of the door 100.

FIG. 10 illustrates the grip member 400 of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 10, the grip member 400 may include a grip top surface 410 and the support rib 420.

The grip top surface 410 may be positioned to face a bottom surface of the door panel 300 as a top surface of the grip member 400. That is, the grip top surface 410 may be shielded from the outside by the front end 310 of the door panel 300.

The support rib 420 may protrude upward from the grip top surface 410. An upper end of the support rib 420 may be in contact with the bottom surface of the door panel 300 and may support the door panel 300 upward. Accordingly, the door panel 300 may be spaced upwardly apart from the grip top surface 410 and supported by the support rib 420.

As described above, the grip member 400 may form the grip portion 260 for the user to grip. Accordingly, the user may apply a force to the grip member 400 and pivot the door 100

In one example, the grip member 400 may be coupled to the front end 210 of the door base 200 and may support the front end 310 of the door panel 300. When there is a clearance between the grip member 400 and the bottom surface of the door panel 300, noise by impact or friction between the components may occur because of an increase and restoration of the clearance when the user applies the force to the grip member 400.

In addition, the gap between the grip member 400 and the door panel 300 may also generate a clearance in a coupling structure of the grip member 400 and the door base 200, and accordingly, noise may occur by the grip member 400 during the process in which the force by the user for pivoting the door 100 is applied to the grip member 400, which may cause inconvenience in use.

An embodiment of the present disclosure supports the bottom surface of the door panel 300 via the support rib 420 instead of the grip top surface 410 of the grip member 400, thereby implementing a line support or point support structure instead of a surface support structure of the door panel 300. Accordingly, the gap between the grip member 400 and the door panel 300 may be minimized, thereby suppressing an increase in the clearance or the occurrence of the noise resulted therefrom.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the grip member 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 11, the support rib 420 may extend rearward from the front end 430 of the grip member 400, and may include a plurality of support ribs spaced apart from each other along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10.

Specifically, the support rib 420 may extend in a direction intersecting the width direction Y of the cabinet 10. For example, the support rib 420 may extend rearward from the front end 430 of the grip member 400.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support rib 420 may extend along a front and rear direction X of the cabinet 10 to stably support the front end 310 of the door panel 300.

In one example, one of the plurality of support ribs 420 may have a length that extends rearward from the front end 430 of the grip member 400 that is different from that of another. Accordingly, not only may a composite support structure of the door panel 300 be formed, but also formability of the grip member 400 may be improved.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of support ribs 420 spaced apart from each other along the width direction Y may include a first support rib 421 and a second support rib 422. The first support rib 421 may extend rearward from the front end 430 of the grip member 400 by a first length D1, and the second support rib 422 may extend rearward from the front end 430 of the grip member 400 by a second length D2 greater than the first length D1.

That is, in the present disclosure, the plurality of support ribs 420 may have different extension lengths. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of support ribs 420 having the different extension lengths may be appropriately arranged to implement an efficient support structure of the door panel 300.

Only the first support rib 421 and the second support rib 422 are described above, but support ribs 420 having various lengths, such as a third support rib 420 having a third length and a fourth support rib 420 having a fourth length, may be disposed when necessary.

In one example, the grip top surface 410 of the grip member 400 may have various shapes. For example, the grip top surface 410 may include a first top surface 412 extending rearward from the front end 430 of the grip member 400, a second top surface 416 positioned rearward of the first top surface 412, and a step surface 414 connecting the first top surface 412 with the second top surface 416.

That is, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the grip top surface 410 may form a stepped surface via the step surface 414. The second top surface 416 may be positioned lower than the first top surface 412. The stepped grip top surface 410 may have increased structural rigidity and improved formability.

Specifically, the grip member 400 may have the front limiting portion 435, and a molding material such as a resin may be introduced from an injection gate G at a rear end shielded by the door panel 300 instead of the front end 430 exposed to the outside.

That is, during a molding process of the grip panel, the injection gate G may be positioned at the rear end of the grip panel, and the molding material may be transferred from the rear end of the grip panel to the front end 430.

However, the front end 430 of the grip panel, which is relatively far from the injection gate G, may not completely fill inside of a mold with the molding material because of a reduced injection pressure compared to that of the rear end, and may have a flow mark occurring on a surface thereof because of a reduced flow speed of the molding material.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may step the grip top surface 410 to reduce the defects that may occur during the molding such as the reduced injection pressure, the poor filling of the molding material, and the occurrence of the flow mark.

Specifically, the second top surface 416 located lower than the first top surface 412 in the grip top surface 410 may have a thickness reduced compared to that of the first top surface 412, which may be advantageous for the injection pressure of the molding material passing through the second top surface 416 to be maintained. Accordingly, the defects such as the reduced injection pressure, the poor filling of the molding material, and the occurrence of the flow mark may be effectively reduced.

In one example, the first length D1 of the first support rib 421 and the second length D2 of the second support rib 422 may be determined in various ways. For example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first support rib 421 may extend from the front limiting portion 435 to a rear end of the first top surface 412, and the second support rib 422 may extend from the front limiting portion 435 to a rear end of the second top surface 416.

Accordingly, an unnecessary increase in the length of the support rib 420 may be prevented, efficient support of the door panel 300 may be implemented, and structural rigidity of the grip panel may be secured as well as the formability thereof may be improved.

Specifically, when the injection gate G is located at a rear end of the first support rib 421 having the first length D1 smaller than the second length D2 of the second support rib 422, a level of flow obstruction of the molding material by the support rib 420 may be reduced.

For example, when the injection gate G is located at a rear end of the second support rib 422, the flow of the molding material supplied from the injection gate G may be obstructed by the second support rib 422, which may deteriorate a molding quality.

That is, an embodiment of the present disclosure may have the first support rib 421 positioned spaced forwardly apart from the rear end of the grip member 400, so that an efficient placement location of the injection gate G may be secured.

In one example, the second support rib 422 may be positioned further from a center of the grip member 400 than the first support rib 421 based on the width direction Y. That is, the first support rib 421 may be positioned closer to the center of the grip member 400 than the second support rib 422.

In other words, the second support rib 422 may include a plurality of second support ribs on each of both sides of the first support rib 421 in the width direction Y. Accordingly, the injection gate G may be positioned at the rear of the center of the grip member 400, and the formability of the grip member 400 may be effectively improved.

In one example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second support rib 422 may include at least one pair of support ribs, the first support rib 421 may be disposed on the first top surface 412 between the pair of second support ribs 422, and a grip coupling portion 440 coupled with the door base 200 may be disposed on the second top surface 416.

The grip coupling portion 440 may be formed in a shape that is recessed downward from the second top surface 416, and may be coupled with the door base 200. The grip coupling portion 440 may be coupled to the door base 200 as a coupling member extends therethrough.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may effectively secure a space in which the grip coupling portion 440 may be defined in the second top surface 416 via the first support rib 421 positioned ahead of the second top surface 416.

In one example, the grip coupling portion 440 may include a plurality of grip coupling portions, as described above, at least some of the plurality of grip coupling portions 440 may be positioned at the rear of the first support rib 421 disposed at the center of the grip member 400, and the remainder of the plurality of grip coupling portions 440 may be positioned between the second support ribs 422 at locations spaced apart from the center of the grip member 400 in the width direction Y.

In one example, the front limiting portion 435 described above may be formed to protrude upward from a front end of the first top surface 412 of the grip member 400. The front limiting portion 435 may be disposed ahead of the door panel 300 and support the door panel 300 rearward.

Accordingly, in the process of the door panel 300 being coupled to the door base 200, the front limiting portion 435 may guide a coupling location of the door panel 300, and may improve structural stability of the door panel 300 in the door 100.

Furthermore, when the door panel 300 may have a sharp edge, like a glass material, the front limiting portion 435 may cover the front end of the door panel 300, thereby preventing injury to the user. In addition, the front limiting portion 435 may effectively suppress a situation in which the front end of the door panel 300 is damaged by impact.

The front limiting portion 435 may have a curved shape such that both ends are positioned rearward relative to a center with respect to the width direction Y of the cabinet 10. That is, the grip member 400 may have a cross-sectional shape in which a center protrudes the most forward.

The second support rib 422 may include a plurality of second support ribs spaced apart from each other along the width direction Y, and extension lengths of the plurality of second support ribs may become smaller in a direction away from the center of the front limiting portion 435.

Specifically, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second support rib 422 may extend from a forward movement limiting portion of the grip member 400, that is, the front end of the grip member 400, to the rear end of the second top surface 416, that is, the rear end of the grip member 400.

As described above, when the front limiting portion 435 or the front end of the grip member 400 has a shape that is curved rearward from the center toward both ends, a distance between the front and rear ends of the grip member 400 may become smaller in a direction away from the center of the grip member 400 in the width direction Y, and thus the extension lengths of the second support ribs 422 may become smaller in the direction away from the center of the grip member 400.

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-section cut along a line A-A of the grip member 400 in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 illustrates the second support rib 422 among the plurality of support ribs 420, but for the convenience of description, the door panel 300 and the door base 200 are illustrated together with the grip member 400.

Referring to FIG. 12, the front limiting portion 435 may be disposed at the front end 430 of the grip member 400 and positioned in front of the door panel 300. Accordingly, the front limiting portion 435 may limit the forward movement of the door panel 300 and guide the coupling location of the door panel 300.

The front limiting portion 435 may protrude upward from the grip top surface 410 and support the front end of the door panel 300 rearward. The support rib 420 may extend rearward from the front limiting portion 435. A protruding height of the support rib 420 may be smaller than that of the front limiting portion 435.

As described above, the grip top surface 410 may include the first top surface 412 and the second top surface 416 positioned rearward of the first top surface 412, and the second top surface 416 may be formed in a step manner so as to be positioned lower than the first top surface 412.

The rear end of the second support rib 422 may be positioned on the second top surface 416. The rear end of the second support rib 422 may be positioned at the rear end of the second top surface 416. The rear end of the second support rib 422 may be positioned at the rear end of the grip member 400.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-section cut along a line B-B of the grip member 400 in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 illustrates the first support rib 421 among the plurality of support ribs 420, but for convenience of description, the door panel 300 and the door base 200 are illustrated together with the grip member 400.

Referring to FIG. 13, the rear end of the first support rib 421 may be positioned on the first top surface 412. The rear end of the first support rib 421 may be positioned forward of the rear end of the first top surface 412 or may be positioned at the rear end of the first top surface 412.

The rear end of the first support rib 421 may be positioned on the step surface 414. A protruding height of the first support rib 421 may be maintained constant along the extension direction. The height of the first support rib 421 may be equal to the protruding height of the second support rib 422 or may be variously changed in consideration of the shape of the door panel 300.

The coupling structure of the door base 200 and the grip member 400 will be described hereinafter.

The door base 200 may include a lower protrusion 250 protruding toward the grip member 400 in the base space 240. The lower protrusion 250 may serve to support and fix the grip member 400 upward.

The grip member 400 may include an upper protrusion 450 that protrudes toward the lower protrusion 250 and is coupled to the lower protrusion 250. The grip member 400 may be supported on the lower protrusion 250 via the upper protrusion 450.

Each of the lower protrusion 250 and the upper protrusion 450 may protrude in a form of a rib or a protrusion. The upper protrusion 450 may be formed in a shape of being simply placed on the lower protrusion 250 or may be formed in a hook coupling manner using a hook or the like.

For example, one of the upper protrusion 450 and the lower protrusion 250 may include a hook groove or a hook hole into which a hook is inserted, and the other of the upper protrusion 450 and the lower protrusion 250 may include the hook.

In one example, the lower protrusion 250 may include a first lower protrusion 251 and a second lower protrusion 253 positioned rearward of the first lower protrusion 251.

The upper protrusion 450 may include a first upper protrusion 451 that is in contact with the first lower protrusion 251 and a second upper protrusion 453 that is positioned rearward of the first upper protrusion 451 and is in contact with the second lower protrusion 253.

The first lower protrusion 251 and the first upper protrusion 451 may together form a recessed surface of the grip portion 260. That is, front surfaces of the first lower protrusion 251 and the first upper protrusion 451 may be exposed to the grip space 262.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper protrusion 450 and the lower protrusion 250 may be spaced apart from each other in the front and rear direction, so that the coupling structure of the grip panel may be stably implemented.

Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be variously improved and modified without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure provided by the following claims.