Button assembly and washing machine having the same

Abstract

A button assembly and a washing machine having the same are disclosed. The button assembly includes a body, two or more buttons elastically connected to the body, and a partition member provided between the respective neighboring buttons and linked with any one of the two or more buttons. The button assembly enables easy button manipulation upon operation of the washing machine.

1 . A button assembly comprising:
 a body;   two or more buttons elastically connected to the body; and   a partition member provided between the respective neighboring buttons and linked with any one of the two or more buttons.   
   
   
       2 . The button assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the buttons are elastically connected to the body via connectors. 
   
   
       3 . The button assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the partition member is connected to and linked with any one of the buttons adjacent thereto. 
   
   
       4 . The button assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the partition member is integrally formed and linked with any one of the buttons adjacent thereto. 
   
   
       5 . The button assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the two or more buttons are formed, at adjacent side surfaces thereof, with recesses, and the partition member is provided between the recesses. 
   
   
       6 . The button assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transparent member provided at a front surface of each button. 
   
   
       7 . The button assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising a display member interposed between the transparent member and the button. 
   
   
       8 . The button assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the button is provided with a light emitting element. 
   
   
       9 . The button assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the button and partition member are tilted by a predetermined angle. 
   
   
       10 . A washing machine comprising:
 a button assembly including a body, two or more buttons elastically connected to the body, and a partition member provided between the respective neighboring buttons and linked with any one of the two or more buttons; and   a control panel to which the button assembly is mounted.   
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the control panel has a predetermined inclination angle, and the buttons and partition member of the button assembly are tilted by an angle corresponding to the inclination angle of the control panel.