Laundry machine

Abstract

A laundry machine includes: a casing; a door installed on an upper surface of the casing; a tub installed within the casing; and a buffering unit for buffering an impact when the door is closed. A collision noise or vibration of the door or the casing can be reduced and damage of the washing can be prevented. Also, a hinge assembly for connecting the door to a top cover is provided to stably support the door made of a heavy material such as tempered glass and minimizes an impact or noise when the door is closed.

1 . A laundry machine comprising:
 a casing;   a door installed on an upper surface of the casing;   a top cover opened and closed by the door;   a tub installed within the casing; and   a buffering unit to buffer an impact when the door is closed,   wherein the buffering unit comprises:   a door contact member that contacts with the door when the door is closed; and   an elastic member that supports the door contact member,   wherein a buffering unit mounting part to accommodate the buffering unit is formed at the upper surface of the casing.   
   
   
       2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the door contact member comprises a body with a hollow in which the elastic member is insertedly positioned, and an outer circumferential surface of the body moves up and down along an inner surface of the buffering unit mounting part. 
   
   
       3 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the door contact member comprises a body with a hollow to accommodate the elastic member therein, and a guide portion protruded from an outer circumferential surface of the body and moving up and down along an inner surface of the buffering unit mounting part. 
   
   
       4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein an air exhausting hole is formed on one surface of the door contact member. 
   
   
       5 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a spring compressed as the door is closed. 
   
   
       6 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein a door interference preventing unit for preventing frictional contact of the door is formed at a corner of the door contact member that contacts with the door. 
   
   
       7 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the door interference preventing unit is a curved part formed at the corner of the door contact member. 
   
   
       8 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the door interference preventing unit is a roller formed at the corner of the door contact member. 
   
   
       9 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a safety unit interworking with the buffering unit and stopping the operation of the laundry machine when the door is opened.   
   
   
       10 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein the safety unit senses whether or not the door is opened by measuring displacement of the buffering unit. 
   
   
       11 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the safety unit is a contact sensor installed at the spring. 
   
   
       12 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hinge assembly that connects the door to the top cover and includes a torsion spring.   
   
   
       13 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein one end of the hinge assembly is fixed and the other end of the hinge assembly is rotatable. 
   
   
       14 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises:
 a hollow body part; and   an elastic member installed within the body part.   
   
   
       15 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein both sides of the body part have each different diameter. 
   
   
       16 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein the body part is a sinter. 
   
   
       17 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein the body part comprises a bracket to reinforce the strength. 
   
   
       18 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein a stopper is formed on at least one of the top cover or the door in order to restrict an opening degree of the door.