Washing machine and detergent case thereof

Abstract

A washing machine in which a detergent case is located below a washing tub unit and detergent and wash water are supplied from the detergent case to the washing tub unit by a pump. An overflow hole to prevent overflow of water to the outside the detergent case is provided on the detergent case, and the detergent and the wash water do not overflow the detergent case and are discharged to an outside of the washing machine through the overflow hole when the pump breaks down.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a stationary tub in the cabinet; 
 a rotary drum in the stationary tub; 
 a detergent case in the cabinet and disposed below the stationary tub to receive water and detergent; 
 a pump to pump the water and the detergent from the detergent case into the stationary tub; 
 an overflow hole provided on the detergent case and directly connected to a drain so as to prevent overflow of the water from overflowing in the detergent case by discharging the overflown water to an outside of the detergent case therethrough; and 
 an outflow hole communicating with the pump, 
 wherein the overflow hole is formed at a position higher than the outflow hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the detergent case includes a housing fixed to the cabinet, and a drawer provided with a receptacle to receive the detergent and mounted in the housing so as to be drawn into and or out of the housing; and 
 the overflow hole is formed on the housing. 
 
     
     
       3. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the housing is provided with an opened front surface so that the drawer can be drawn into and out of the housing through the opened front surface; and 
 the overflow hole is formed at a position lower than the opened front surface of the housing. 
 
     
     
       4. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the overflow hole is formed on a bottom surface of the housing. 
     
     
       5. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an overflow passage communicating the overflow hole with the outside of the cabinet. 
     
     
       6. The washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a drain passage provided to discharge water from the stationary tub to the outside of the cabinet,
 wherein the overflow passage is joined to the drain passage. 
 
     
     
       7. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the pump is formed integrally with the housing. 
     
     
       8. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the drawer is formed of a transparent material. 
     
     
       9. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the overflow hole is formed in a side surface of the housing. 
     
     
       10. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle is a plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
       11. A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a stationary tub in the cabinet; 
 a rotary drum in the stationary tub; 
 a detergent case in the cabinet and disposed below the stationary tub to receive water and detergent, wherein the detergent case includes including a housing fixed to the cabinet, and a drawer provided with a receptacle to receive the detergent and mounted in the housing so as to be drawn into and out of the housing; 
 a pump to pump the water and the detergent from the detergent case into the stationary tub; and 
 an overflow hole provided on the detergent case so as to prevent overflow of the water from overflowing in the detergent case by discharging the overflown water to an outside of the detergent case, therethrough; 
 an outflow hole communicating with the housing, wherein the overflow hole is formed at a position higher on the housing than the outflow hole; 
 an overflow passage communicating the overflow hole with the outside of the cabinet; and 
 a drain passage provided to discharge water from the stationary tub to the outside of the cabinet, 
 wherein the overflow passage is joined to the drain passage. 
 
     
     
       12. A stackable washing machine system comprising:
 a first washing machine;   a second washing machine disposed above the first washing machine and stackable with the first washing machine, the second washing machine including:
 a cabinet; 
 a tub disposed in the cabinet; 
 a damper in the cabinet configured to fix the tub to the cabinet; 
 a drum rotatably installed in the tub; 
 a detergent container housing disposed in the cabinet, disposed below the tub substantially horizontally with respect to the damper, and having an opening at a front side thereof; and 
 a detergent container to be withdrawn from or inserted into the opening of the detergent container housing, the detergent container comprising:
 a first detergent receiving part to store liquid detergent; and 
 a second detergent receiving part to store powder detergent so that the stored liquid detergent or the powder detergent is selectively supplied to the tub; and 
 
 a pump configured to supply water to the tub and to the detergent container to supply the water mixed with the stored detergent to the tub. 
   
     
     
       13. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 12, wherein the detergent container housing further comprises an outlet port to discharge the liquid detergent or the water mixed with the powder detergent contained in the detergent container to the pump. 
     
     
       14. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 13, wherein the detergent container housing further comprises an overflow hole disposed at a position higher than the outlet port to prevent the water supplied to the detergent container housing from overflowing and to discharge the overflown water to an outside therethrough. 
     
     
       15. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 14, wherein the overflow hole is formed on a bottom surface of the detergent container housing. 
     
     
       16. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 14, further comprising an overflow passage through which the overflow hole communicates with an outside of the cabinet. 
     
     
       17. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 14, further comprising a drain passage to discharge water contained in the tub to an outside of the cabinet, and an overflow passage connected between the overflow hole and the drain passage. 
     
     
       18. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 12, wherein the detergent container is formed of a material which allows the detergent contained in the detergent container to be visible through the detergent container. 
     
     
       19. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 12, wherein the detergent container is formed of a transparent material. 
     
     
       20. The washing machine according to claim 19, wherein the detergent container is formed of a material which allows the detergent contained in the detergent container to be visible through the detergent container. 
     
     
       21. A washing machine comprising:
 a first tub;   a second tub disposed in a cabinet above the first tub;   a detergent container housing disposed below the second tub and having an opening at a front side thereof;   a detergent container to be withdrawn from or inserted into the opening of the detergent container housing, and comprising a first detergent receiving part to store liquid detergent and a second detergent receiving part to store powder detergent so that the stored liquid detergent or the powder detergent is selectively supplied to the second tub;   a pump configured to supply water to the second tub and to the detergent container o supply the water mixed with the stored detergent to the second tub; and   a damper in the cabinet configured to fix the second tub to the cabinet,   wherein the detergent container housing is disposed substantially horizontally with respect to the damper.   
     
     
       22. The washing machine according to claim 21, wherein the detergent container housing is disposed between the first tub and the second tub. 
     
     
       23. A washing machine system, comprising:
 a first washing machine;   a second washing machine including a cabinet;   a detergent assembly including:   a detergent container housing disposed below a tub of the second washing machine and having a front opening; and   a detergent container to be withdrawn from or inserted into the front opening, and comprising a first detergent receiving part to store liquid detergent and a second detergent receiving part to store powder detergent so that the stored liquid detergent or the powder detergent is selectively supplied to the tub;   a pump configured to supply water to the tub, and to the detergent container to supply the water mixed with the stored detergent to the tub; and   a damper in the cabinet configured to fix the tub to the cabinet,   wherein the detergent container is disposed substantially horizontally with respect to the damper.   
     
     
       24. The washing machine system according to claim 23, wherein the detergent container is formed of a transparent material. 
     
     
       25. The stackable washing machine system according to claim 23, wherein the detergent container housing has a bottom surface having one end higher than an other end to prevent the water supplied to the detergent container housing from overflowing in the detergent container housing by draining out the overflown water in the one end of detergent container housing. 
     
     
       26. The washing machine system according to claim 23,
 wherein a bottom surface of the detergent container housing is formed to cause the water introduced into the detergent container to flow toward a drain when the water supplied to the detergent container housing reaches a selected height in the detergent container.