# US 8,739,577 B2 · Washing machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,577 B2 - Document ID: US8739577B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/321,570 - Filed: 2010-07-30 - Published: 2012-03-15 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-31 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: Dae Wook Kwak; Jong Min Kim; Cheol Kang Heo; Han Ki Cho; Gyung Hun Nho; Soon Jo Lee; Kyu Chul Lee - Inventors: Dae Wook Kwak; Jong Min Kim; Cheol Kang Heo; Han Ki Cho; Gyung Hun Nho; Soon Jo Lee; Kyu Chul Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739577B2 ## CPC - D06F 39/00: Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 (control of washing machines D06F33/00, D06F34/00) - D06F 37/26: Casings; Tubs - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract A washing machine is disclosed. A washing machine includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior appearance thereof; a tub installed in the cabinet to hold wash water therein; a drum rotatably installed in the tub to accommodate laundry therein; at least one venting portion provided in an upper portion of the tub to communicate with an outside of the tub; and a ventilation part (300) provided in a lower portion of the tub to communicate with an inside of the tub. The above configuration enables convection current of internal air of the tub generated via the venting portion and the ventilation part (300). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine comprising: a cabinet configured to define an exterior appearance thereof; a tub installed in the cabinet to hold wash water therein; a drum rotatably installed in the tub to accommodate laundry therein; at least one venting portion provided in an upper portion of the tub to communicate with an outside of the tub; and a ventilation part provided in a lower portion of the tub to communicate with an inside of the tub, and wherein convection current of internal air of the tub generated via the venting portion and the ventilation part, wherein an end of the ventilation part is in communication with a rear lower portion of the tub and another end of the ventilation part is extended toward a top of the cabinet from the tub, and wherein the ventilation part is located in the cabinet, not in communication with an outside of the cabinet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein external air of the tub is drawn into the tub via the ventilation part, the external air of the tub having a relatively lower temperature than the internal air, and internal air of the tub is discharged out of the tub via the venting portion, the internal air of the tub having a relatively higher temperature than the external air. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the ventilation part has a pipe shape and a predetermined portion of the extended part of the ventilation is bent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the ventilation part is one-sidedly in a rear portion of the tub. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein an end portion of the ventilation part, which is extended toward an upper part of the cabinet, is higher than a predetermined water level measured when the maximum amount of the wash water is held in the tub. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the ventilation part comprises a plurality of coupling parts so that the ventilation part is coupled to the cabinet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the venting portion or the ventilation part comprises a check valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the ventilation part comprises a valve supporting part so that the check valve is supported and installed therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the check valve comprises a flapper and a flapper supporting part is provided with the flapper as one body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the flapper supporting part comprises a hooking projection hooked to the valve supporting part and a flexible projection spaced apart a predetermined distance from the hooking projection, the flexible projection elastically transformable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the width (L2) between ends of the hooking projection and the flexible projection is larger than the width (L1) of the flapper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the ventilation part further comprises a damper part so as to dampen an operational shock during the operation of the flapper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the damper part is provided between contacting surfaces of the flapper and the valve supporting part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the damper part comprises a plurality of coupling projections so that the damper part is coupled to the ventilation part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the damper part is made of elastic material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the ventilation part further comprises a bubble receiver which receives detergent bubbles discharged via the check valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the bubble receiver is integrally formed with or separable from an end of the ventilation part. ### Claim 18 A washing machine comprising: a cabinet configured to define an exterior appearance thereof; a tub installed in the cabinet to hold wash water therein; a drum rotatably installed in the tub to accommodate laundry therein; at least one venting portion provided in an upper portion of the tub to communicate with an outside of the tub; and a ventilation part provided in a lower portion of the tub to communicate with an inside of the tub, and wherein convection current of internal air of the tub generated via the venting portion and the ventilation part, wherein the venting portion or the ventilation part comprises a check valve, wherein the ventilation part comprises a valve supporting part so that the check valve is supported and installed therein, wherein the check valve comprises a flapper and a flapper supporting part is provided with the flapper as one body, and wherein the flapper supporting part comprises a hooking projection hooked to the valve supporting part and a flexible projection spaced apart a predetermine distance from the hooking projection, the flexible projection elastically transformable. ### Claim 19 A washing machine comprising: a cabinet configured to define an exterior appearance thereof; a tub installed in the cabinet to hold wash water therein; a drum rotatably installed in the tub to accommodate laundry therein; at least one venting portion provided in an upper portion of the tub to communicate with an outside of the tub; and a ventilation part provided in a lower portion of the tub to communicate with an inside of the tub, and wherein convection current of internal air of the tub generated via the venting portion and the ventilation part, wherein an end of the ventilation part is in communication with a rear lower portion of the tub and another end of the ventilation part is extended toward a top of the cabinet from the tub, and wherein the ventilation part is located in the cabinet and sealed from an outside of the cabinet.