Home appliance assembly

Abstract

A home appliance assembly employs an alignment device provided to the respective flanges of a front panel and side cabinet of the outer case of a home appliance, such as a dryer, to facilitate assembly and prevent a distortion of the front panel that may occur when the completed assembly is transported. The home appliance assembly includes at least one first flange formed on a front panel of an outer case, at least one second flange formed on a side cabinet of the outer case to oppose the first flange, and an alignment device for aligning the front panel with respect to the side cabinet during assembly of the outer case.

1 . A home appliance assembly comprising: 
 at least one first flange formed on a front panel of an outer case;    at least one second flange formed on a side cabinet of the outer case to oppose said at least one first flange; and    alignment means for aligning the front panel with respect to the side cabinet during assembly of the outer case.    
   
   
       2 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the front panel has at least two sides, said first flange being formed on each side of the front panel.  
   
   
       3 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one first flange is bent into a channel shape having a rearward-facing mating surface for meeting said at least one second flange.  
   
   
       4 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side cabinet has at least two forward edges, said second flange being formed on each forward edge of the side cabinet by bending the forward edge approximately at a right angle to meet said at least one first flange.  
   
   
       5 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , said alignment means comprising: 
 at least one holder protruding from one of said first and second flanges,    wherein the other flange of said first and second flanges has a recess corresponding to said at least one holder such that said at least one holder may be inserted into the recess.    
   
   
       6 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holder is provided to said at least one first flange and wherein the recess is formed in said at least one second flange.  
   
   
       7 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holder is provided to said at least one second flange and wherein the recess is formed in said at least one first flange.  
   
   
       8 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holder is tapered toward its distal end.  
   
   
       9 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holder is integrally formed with said one of said first and second flanges by a foaming process.  
   
   
       10 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holder is coupled to said one of said first and second flanges using a screw.  
   
   
       11 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holder is welded to said one of said first and second flanges.  
   
   
       12 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the recess formed in said one of said first and second flanges is open along an edge of said one of said first and second flanges.  
   
   
       13 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one holder is provided at a plurality of sites on said one of said first and second flanges, the plurality of sites establishing a predetermined interval.  
   
   
       14 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said one of said first and second flanges has an upper and lower end, said at least one holder being provided at at least one site on each of upper and lower ends of said one of said first and second flanges.  
   
   
       15 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said alignment means comprises at least one protrusion having a predetermined height to maintain a uniform gap between said at least one first flange and said at least one second flange.  
   
   
       16 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the alignment means further comprises at least one protrusion having a predetermined height to maintain a uniform gap between said at least one first flange and said at least one second flange.  
   
   
       17 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one protrusion and said at least one holder are provided to said at least one first flange and wherein the recess is formed in said at least one second flange.  
   
   
       18 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one protrusion and said at least one holder are provided to said at least one second flange and wherein the recess is formed in said at least one first flange.  
   
   
       19 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one protrusion and said at least one holder are each provided at a plurality of sites on said one of said first and second flanges, the plurality of sites establishing a predetermined interval.  
   
   
       20 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said one of said first and second flanges has an upper and lower end, said at least one protrusion and said at least one holder each being provided at at least one site on each of upper and lower ends of said one of said first and second flanges.  
   
   
       21 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one protrusion and said at least one holder are integrally formed as one body by a foaming process.  
   
   
       22 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one protrusion, said at least one holder, and said one of said first and second flanges are integrally formed as one body by a foaming process.  
   
   
       23 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one holder is coupled to said at least one protrusion using a screw.  
   
   
       24 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one holder is coupled to said at least one protrusion and said one of said first and second flanges using a screw.  
   
   
       25 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one holder is welded to said at least one protrusion.  
   
   
       26 . The home appliance assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side cabinet is part of an outer case of a dryer.  
   
   
       27 . A home appliance assembly comprising: 
 a front panel, provided to a front side of an outer case, having a pair of first flanges respectively formed at a rearward edge of both sides of the front panel;    a side cabinet, provided on both lateral sides of the outer case, having a pair of second flanges respectively formed on forward edges of the side cabinet to oppose the first flanges;    at least one protrusion having a predetermined height to maintain a uniform gap between the first flanges and the second flanges; and    a holder, protruding from said at least one protrusion, for aligning the front panel with respect to the side cabinet during assembly,    wherein said at least one protrusion is provided to one of said pair of first flanges and said pair of second flanges and a recess is formed in the other pair of flanges to receive said holder.    
   
   
       28 . A dryer comprising: 
 a first flange formed on a front panel of an outer case;    a second flange formed on a side cabinet of the outer case, to oppose said first flange upon assembly of the outer case; and    a holder protruding from one of said first and second flanges, the other flange of said first and second flanges having a recess corresponding to said holder,    wherein, when said holder is inserted into the recess, the front panel is aligned with respect to the side cabinet during the assembly of the outer case.