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 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 to an outside of the detergent case; 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 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 below the stationary tub to receive water and detergent,   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 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 to an outside of the detergent case,   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 clothes treatment system comprising:
 a first clothes treatment apparatus including:
 a first cabinet; 
 a first drum rotatably installed in the first cabinet; 
 a first detergent case in the first cabinet, and configured to receive water and detergent; 
   a second clothes treatment apparatus disposed above the first clothes treatment apparatus, and stackable with the first clothes treatment apparatus, the second clothes treatment apparatus including:
 a second cabinet; and 
 a second drum rotatably installed in the second cabinet; and 
   a control panel disposed between the first drum and the second drum, and configured to control the first clothes treatment apparatus and the second clothes treatment apparatus,   wherein:
 the second clothes treatment apparatus further includes:
 a second detergent case in the second cabinet, and disposed below the second drum to receive water and detergent; 
 a pump to pump the water and detergent from the second detergent case into the second drum; 
 an overflow hole provided on the second detergent case, and directly connected to a drain so as to prevent the water from overflowing in the second detergent case by discharging the overflown water to an outside of the second detergent case therethrough; and 
 an outflow hole communicating with the pump; and 
 the overflow hole is formed at a position higher than the outflow hole. 
 
   
     
     
       13. The stackable clothes treatment system according to  claim 12 , wherein the control panel disposed on a front surface of the first cabinet. 
     
     
       14. The stackable clothes treatment system according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the second detergent case includes:
 a housing fixed to the second cabinet; and 
 a drawer provided with a receptacle to receive the detergent, and mounted in the housing so as to be drawn into or out of the housing; and 
   the overflow hole is formed on the housing.   
     
     
       15. The stackable clothes treatment system according  claim 14 , wherein the drawer is formed of a transparent material. 
     
     
       16. The stackable clothes treatment system according to  claim 14 , 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.   
     
     
       17. The stackable clothes treatment system according to  claim 14 , wherein the overflow hole is formed on a bottom surface of the housing. 
     
     
       18. The stackable clothes treatment system according to  claim 12 , further comprising an overflow passage communicating the overflow hole with the outside of the second detergent case.