Lifter and washing machine having the same

Abstract

A lifter simply mounted on a drum and a washing machine having the same. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub arranged within the cabinet, a drum arranged within the tub to accommodate laundry and rotated by rotary force transmitted from a driving source, and a plurality of lifters provided on the inner circumferential surface of the drum to move the laundry within the drum. Each of the plurality of lifters includes a plurality of hooks provided along a frame formed at the lower end of each of the plurality of lifters so as to allow each of the plurality of lifters to be hung to the drum, and at least one protrusion protruding from the lower end of each of the plurality of lifters so as to allow each of the plurality of lifters to be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub arranged within the cabinet to contain water therein;   a drum arranged within the tub to accommodate laundry and rotated by rotary force transmitted from a driving source; and   a plurality of lifters provided on inner circumferential surface of the drum to move the laundry within the drum,   wherein each of the plurality of lifters includes:   a plurality of hooks provided along a frame formed at the lower end of each of the plurality of lifters so as to allow each of the plurality of lifters to be hung to the drum; and   at least one protrusion to protrude from the lower end of each of the plurality of lifters so as to allow each of the plurality of lifters to be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes at least one fixing protrusion to prevent each of the plurality of lifters mounted on the drum from moving. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the drum includes at least one fixing hole through which the at least one fixing protrusion passes so as to allow the at least one fixing protrusion to prevent the plurality of lifters from moving. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one fixing protrusion includes a first fixing protrusion and a second fixing protrusion; and   the first fixing protrusion and the second fixing protrusion are separated from each other so as to prevent the plurality of lifters from moving.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the first fixing protrusion and the second fixing protrusion are arranged in opposite directions with respect to the center of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes at least one adhering protrusion to adhere the plurality of hooks closely to the inner circumferential surface of the drum to increase fastening force between each of the plurality of lifters and the drum. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion protrudes farther than the frame of the lower end of each of the plurality of lifters. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of hooks includes a support part to protrude from the frame of each of the plurality of lifters, and a hanging part bent from the support part and extended to the inside of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the drum includes a plurality of hanging holes to which the hanging parts of the plurality of hooks are hung so as to mount each of the plurality of lifters on the drum. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of hanging holes includes a through hole through which each of the plurality of hooks passes so as to protrude from the inside of the drum toward the outside, and a guide hole to allow each of the plurality of hooks passed through the through hole to be slid therealong and thus the hanging part to be hung to each of the hanging holes. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the guide hole has a smaller width than the through hole. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of hanging holes is formed in the same number as the number of the plurality of hooks. 
     
     
         13 . A washing machine comprising a drum to accommodate laundry and rotated by rotary force transmitted from a driving source, and a plurality of lifters provided on the inner circumferential surface of the drum,
 wherein each of the plurality of lifters includes:   a plurality of hooks provided at the lower end of each of the plurality of lifters so as to mount each of the plurality of lifters on the drum; and   at least one protrusion protruding from the lower end of each of the plurality of lifters so as to allow each of the plurality of lifters to be fixed to inner circumferential surface of the drum.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one protrusion protrudes to press the inner circumferential surface of the drum outwardly. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the drum includes at least one fixing hole provided at a position corresponding to the at least one protrusion; and   the at least one protrusion protrudes to pass through the at least one fixing hole.   
     
     
         16 . A lifter comprising:
 a body to contact laundry to lift the laundry;   a plurality of hooks provided at a designated interval along a frame formed at the lower end of the body so as to mount the body on a drum; and   at least one protrusion to protrude from the lower end of the body.   
     
     
         17 . The lifter according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes a fixing protrusion to prevent the body from moving. 
     
     
         18 . The lifter according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes at least one adhering protrusion to increase mounting force of the plurality of hooks on the drum. 
     
     
         19 . The lifter according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of hooks includes a support part to protrude downwardly from the lower end of the body, and a hanging part bent from the support part and extended to the inside of the frame of the lower end of the body. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of ribs is formed on inner surface of the lifter in the widthwise direction of the lifter. 
     
     
         21 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of ribs is formed on inner surface of the lifter in the widthwise direction of the lifter. 
     
     
         22 . The lifter according to  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of ribs is formed on inner surface of the lifter in the widthwise direction of the lifter.