# US 11,078,615 B2 · Lifter and washing machine having the same

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- Number: US 11,078,615 B2
- Document ID: US11078615B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/323,171
- Filed: 2017-07-04
- Published: 2019-06-13
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-04
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
- Inventors: Jung Hee Lee; Jeong Hoon Kang; Kwan Woo Hong; Dae Uk Kang; Min Sung Kim; Ju Bum Han
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078615B2

## CPC

- D06F 37/065: {ribs or lifters having means for circulating the washing liquid}
- D06F 37/06: Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle
- D06F 37/22: in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
- D06F 37/264: {Tubs provided with reinforcing structures, e.g. ribs, inserts, braces}
- D06F 39/02: Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F 39/083: {Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements}
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES

## Abstract

Disclosed are a lifter having an improved structure to improve washing performance and a washing machine having the lifter. The washing machine includes a drum and a lifter coupled to the inside of the drum, wherein the lifter is provided in the form of a closed curve in which a space is formed at a central portion thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A washing machine comprising:
a drum;
a lifter coupled to the inside of the drum; and
a plurality of injection holes formed on the lifter to spray washing water into the drum,
wherein the lifter is provided in a form of a closed curve with an opening toward an interior space of the drum to have a space at a center portion thereof, and
wherein the lifter includes a pair of first portions extending in an axial direction of the drum and spaced apart from each other, and a pair of second portions connected to each of the first portions and having a curvature to form the closed curve with the opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the lifter is formed to be inclined with respect to a lower surface of the lifter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the lifter includes at least one rib to partition the space.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the at least one rib includes a first rib formed in an axial direction of the drum and a second rib formed in a rotation direction of the drum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the lifter includes any one of a quadrangle shape, a pentagon shape, an ellipse shape, a circular shape, and a shape in which a pair of circles is connected.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:
the lifter includes at least one first coupling portion provided to be coupled to the drum, and
the drum includes at least one second coupling portion provided to correspond to the at least one first coupling portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the lifter is coupled to the drum in a sliding manner by the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:
the lifter includes at least one first fixing portion provided to be fixed to the drum, and
the drum includes at least one second fixing portion provided to correspond to the at least one first fixing portion.