Drum washing machine having vertically openable and linearly movable door

Abstract

A drum washing machine having a vertically openable and linearly movable door includes a cabinet having an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet to allow laundry to be put in and removed from the opening, a door provided at the front wall of the cabinet to open or close the opening, a door opening/closing mechanism connected between the cabinet and the door to allow the door to be opened while the door is moved downwardly, and to be closed while the door is moved upwardly, such that an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened, and a linear movement mechanism to allow the door to be linearly moved such that the door can be moved into the cabinet in an opened state. The door can be utilized as a laundry holder when the door is opened, and the door can be easily opened or closed while the laundry can be conveniently put into or removed from the washing machine by pushing the door into the cabinet, even where the washing machine is located in a narrow space.

1 . A drum washing machine having a vertically openable and linearly movable door, comprising: 
 a cabinet having an opening at a front wall of the cabinet to allow laundry to be put into or removed from the opening;    a door provided at the front wall of the cabinet to open and close the opening;    a door opening/closing mechanism connected between the cabinet and the door, configured to allow the door to open when the door is moved downwardly, and to close when the door is moved upwardly, such that an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened; and    a linear movement mechanism configured to allow the door to be moved linearly into the cabinet when the door is opened.    
   
   
       2 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the door has a container-shaped portion configured to contain the laundry when the door is opened.  
   
   
       3 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the door opening/closing mechanism comprises a link opening/closing mechanism having at least first and second link members respectively connected to first and second side portions of the door.  
   
   
       4 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the linear movement mechanism comprises: 
 a movable base connected to the door opening/closing mechanism and located at a bottom surface of the cabinet such that the movable base is linearly moveable; and    a movement guide provided between the cabinet and the movable base, configured to guide a linear movement of the movable base.    
   
   
       5 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the door opening/closing mechanism comprises a link opening/closing mechanism having at least first and second link members respectively connected to first and second side portions of the door, and 
 wherein the movable base includes at least first and second link brackets to which the first and second link members are respectively connected.    
   
   
       6 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the linear movement mechanism includes a movement restrictor configured to restrict a linear movement of the door.  
   
   
       7 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the movement restrictor restricts the movable base from moving into the cabinet when the door is opened or closed.  
   
   
       8 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes a clean door configured to be opened when the door is forced into the cabinet and located at a lower portion of the front wall of the cabinet.  
   
   
       9 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the door opening/closing mechanism comprises a link opening/closing mechanism having at least first and second link members respectively connected to first and second side portions of the door, and 
 wherein the linear movement mechanism includes an automatic opening/closing mechanism configured to allow the door to be automatically lifted or lowered by rotation of the link opening/closing mechanism.    
   
   
       10 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the automatic opening/closing mechanism comprises an electric motor configured to rotate the link opening/closing mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes an automatic movement mechanism configured to allow the door to be automatically linearly moved by movement of the automatic opening/closing mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . The drum washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the linear movement mechanism comprises a movable base connected to the door opening/closing mechanism and located at a bottom surface of the cabinet such that the movable base can be linearly moved, and 
 wherein the automatic movement mechanism includes an electric motor configured to move the movable base via a rack and pinion power transmission.    
   
   
       13 . A washing machine for washing at least one item, comprising: 
 a cabinet having an opening at a front wall of the cabinet to allow the item to be put into or removed from the opening;    a door provided at the front wall of the cabinet to open and close the opening, the door being vertically openable and linearly movable;    a door opening/closing mechanism connected between the cabinet and the door, configured to allow the door to open when the door is moved downwardly, and to close when the door is moved upwardly, such that an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened; and    a linear movement mechanism configured to allow the door to be moved linearly into the cabinet when the door is opened.    
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the door has a container-shaped portion configured to contain the item when the door is opened.  
   
   
       15 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the door opening/closing mechanism comprises a link opening/closing mechanism having at least first and second link members respectively connected to first and second side portions of the door.  
   
   
       16 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the linear movement mechanism comprises: 
 a movable base connected to the door opening/closing mechanism and located at a bottom surface of the cabinet such that the movable base is linearly moveable; and    a movement guide provided between the cabinet and the movable base, configured to guide a linear movement of the movable base.    
   
   
       17 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the cabinet includes a clean door configured to be opened when the door is forced into the cabinet and located at a lower portion of the front wall of the cabinet.  
   
   
       18 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the door opening/closing mechanism comprises a link opening/closing mechanism having at least first and second link members respectively connected to first and second side portions of the door, and 
 wherein the linear movement mechanism includes an automatic opening/closing mechanism configured to allow the door to be automatically lifted.    
   
   
       19 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the cabinet includes an automatic movement mechanism configured to allow the door to be automatically linearly moved by movement of the automatic opening/closing mechanism.  
   
   
       20 . A vertically openable and linearly movable door for opening or closing an opening at a front wall of a cabinet, the door comprising: 
 a door opening/closing mechanism connected between the cabinet and the door, configured to allow the door to open when the door is moved downwardly, and to close when the door is moved upwardly, such that an outer surface of the door faces upwardly when the door is opened; and    a linear movement mechanism configured to allow the door to be moved linearly into the cabinet when the door is opened.