Washing machine having legs absorbing impact

Abstract

A washing machine includes legs provided on a lower portion of a washing machine contacting with a support surface, thus supporting the washing machine and absorbing a vibration of the washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet, and legs which support the cabinet on a support surface. Each of the legs includes first and second vibration absorbing parts. The first vibration absorbing part contacts, on a bottom surface thereof, with the support surface, and has elasticity to have a higher contracting strain as a weight applied thereto increases. A bottom surface of the second vibration absorbing part is placed higher than the bottom surface of the first vibration absorbing part by a predetermined height, thus contacting with or being spaced apart from the support surface according to the contracting strain of the first vibration absorbing part.

1 . A washing machine on a support surface, including: 
 a cabinet; and    at least one leg to support the cabinet on the support surface, the at least one leg comprising: 
 a first vibration absorbing part to contact, on a bottom surface thereof, with the support surface, the first vibration absorbing part having elasticity to have a higher contracting strain as a weight applied thereto increases; and  
 a second vibration absorbing part of which a bottom surface is placed higher than the bottom surface of the first vibration absorbing part by a predetermined height, thus contacting or being spaced apart from the support surface according to the contracting strain of the first vibration absorbing part.  
   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first vibration absorbing part comprises soft rubber, and the second vibration absorbing part comprises hard rubber.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second vibration absorbing parts are integrated with each other into a single structure.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , further comprising a groove of a predetermined depth, which provided between the first and second vibration absorbing parts, minimizing an interference between the first and second vibration absorbing parts.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fastening unit to support the first and second vibration absorbing parts at predetermined portions thereof and fastening the leg to the cabinet.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the fastening unit further comprises a reinforcing part to reinforce a strength of one of the first and second vibration absorbing parts.  
   
   
       7 . A support leg comprising: 
 a fastening unit fastening the leg to a cabinet;    a head formed at an end of said fastening unit; and    a vibration absorbing unit surrounding a portion of said head, wherein said absorbing unit comprises first and second vibration absorbing parts separated by grooves.    
   
   
       8 . The support leg according to  claim 7 , wherein said first vibration absorbing part contacts, on a bottom surface thereof, a support surface, the first vibration absorbing part having high elasticity, and said second vibration absorbing part having a bottom surface placed higher than the bottom surface of the first vibration absorbing part by a predetermined height, thus contacting or being spaced apart from the support surface according to a contracting strain of the first vibration absorbing part.  
   
   
       9 . The support leg according to  claim 7 , wherein the first vibration absorbing part comprises soft rubber, and the second vibration absorbing part comprises hard rubber.  
   
   
       10 . The support leg according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second vibration absorbing parts are integrated with each other into a single structure.  
   
   
       11 . The support leg according to  claim 9 , further comprising a groove of a predetermined depth, provided between the first and second vibration absorbing parts, minimizing an interference between the first and second vibration absorbing parts.  
   
   
       12 . The support leg according to  claim 7 , wherein the head further comprises a reinforcing part to reinforce strength of one of the first and second vibration absorbing parts.  
   
   
       13 . The support leg according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second vibration absorbing parts have different characteristic frequencies.  
   
   
       14 . The support leg according to  claim 13 , wherein the characteristic frequency of the first vibration absorbing part is lower than the characteristic frequency of the second vibration absorbing part.