Control button of drum type washing machine

A control button of a control panel for manipulating a rotary switch, the control button comprising:

• a button securing part, including
• a securing body having a fitting hole formed at a center of the securing body,
• a securing portion extending from one side of the securing body and having a rack formed on an outer surface of the securing portion, and
• a coupling hole formed inside the securing portion so as to be in communication with the fitting hole, the coupling hole being coupled to the rotary switch;
• a button operating part, including
• an operating portion open at one end and having an operating trough and a pinion corresponding to the rack disposed inside the operating portion,
• a guide member disposed at one side of the operating portion, and
• an operating body integral to one end of the guide member and to an opposed end of the operating portion;
• an elastic member having one end mounted between the operating body and the operating portion, and the other end mounted on the button securing part;
• and
• a cylindrical button adjusting part provided on the control panel and having the operating body press-fitted into the button adjusting part,
• wherein the guide member comprises:
• a guide protruding piece formed at one side of an outer peripheral surface of the operating portion and having a guide-piece guiding portion defined therein;
• a guide-piece controlling protrusion formed on the guide-piece guiding portion which divides the guide-piece guiding portion, the guide-piece controlling protrusion including a guide groove which faces the operating body, the guide groove having a V-shape such that the guide groove comprises a first slope and a second slope;
• and
• a guide-piece having a moving end and a fixed end, the moving end capable of moving along the guide-piece guiding portion to control operation of the button operating part, and the fixed end secured to the button securing part, and
• wherein the guide-piece controlling protrusion has a corner facing the guide-piece and biased to one side of an imaginary straight line extending along a longitudinal axis of the guide-piece, the guide groove is formed on the imaginary straight line, and the elastic member is a cylindrical coil-spring having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the cylindrical button adjusting part.