U.S. patent application number 12/721856 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-01 for laundry drier.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Soon Jo LEE.
Application Number | 20100162586 12/721856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37026497 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100162586 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Soon Jo |
July 1, 2010 |
LAUNDRY DRIER
Abstract
A laundry drier is provided. The laundry drier includes a base,
a drying drum, a front cover, a back cover, a top cover, and side
covers. The base includes an air passage in the inside of the base,
and at least one discharge port for discharging air that has flowed
into the air passage. The drying drum is provided above the base
and receives the laundry. The front cover is mounted in front of
the drying drum, and the back cover is mounted in the rear side of
the drying drum. The top cover is mounted above the drying drum,
and the side covers are mounted in the lateral sides of the drying
drum and have at least two discharge holes.
Inventors: |
LEE; Soon Jo; (Changwon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
37026497 |
Appl. No.: |
12/721856 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11390310 |
Mar 28, 2006 |
7694434 |
|
|
12721856 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
34/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/04 20130101;
D06F 58/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
34/130 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/04 20060101
D06F058/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-26936 |
Claims
1. A dryer, comprising: a drum provided in a cabinet, the cabinet
comprising: a front cover provided at a front of the drum; a back
cover provided at a read of the drum; a top cover provided above
the drum; and left and right side covers provided at left and right
lateral sides of the drum, respectively, wherein each side cover
includes two discharge holes formed therein; and a base provided
beneath the drum and coupled to a lower portion of the cabinet,
wherein the base comprises an air passage formed therein, wherein
the air passage extends from an outlet of the drum to a discharge
port so as to discharge air from the drum to an outside of the
cabinet therethrough.
2. The dryer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two discharge
holes formed in one of the side covers in is communication with the
discharge port.
3. The dryer of claim 2, further comprising at least one cap,
wherein the at least one cap covers each discharge hole that is not
in communication with the discharge port.
4. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the two discharge holes are
symmetrically formed on opposite sides of a vertical line that
equally divides each side cover.
5. The dryer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two discharge
holes formed in one of the side covers is provided at a position
corresponding to the discharge port.
6. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the left and right side covers are
physically interchangeable such that either of the side covers can
be installed on either of the left or right lateral sides of the
drum.
7. The dryer of claim 1, wherein each of the side covers includes
at least one bead formed therein, wherein one of the two discharge
holes formed in each side cover is formed in the at least one
bead.
8. The dryer of claim 7, wherein at least one end of the at least
one bead has a predetermined radius of curvature that corresponds
to a radius of the discharge hole formed therein.
9. The dryer of claim 8, wherein the at least one bead comprises
two beads that extend vertically along each side cover such that
the two beads are symmetrically formed on opposite sides of a
vertical line that equally divides each side cover, and wherein the
two discharge holes are formed in lower ends of the two beads.
10. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the discharge port comprises a
left discharge port that extends towards the left side cover, and a
right discharge port that extends towards the right side cover.
11. The dryer of claim 10, wherein one of the two discharge holes
formed in the left side cover is in communication with the left
discharge port, and one of the two discharge holes formed in the
right side cover is in communication with the right discharge
port.
12. The dryer of claim 11, wherein the base comprises: an upper
base part; and a lower base part coupled to the upper base part,
wherein the passage is formed between the upper and lower base
parts.
13. The dryer of claim 12, wherein the passage comprises: a drum
connection duct positioned adjacent the outlet of the drum to
direct exhaust air from the drum into the passage; a blower duct
that draws the exhaust air through the drum connection duct and
into a main passage; and an intersection portion positioned at an
end of the main passage portion to direct air into at least one of
a left sub-passage that extends toward the left side cover, a right
sub-passage that extends towards the right side cover, or a rear
sub-passage that extends towards the rear cover, wherein one of the
two discharge holes formed in the left side cover is in
communication with the left sub-passage, and one of the two
discharge holes formed in the right side cover is in communication
with the right sub-passage.
Description
[0001] This application is a Divisional Application of prior U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/390,310 filed Mar. 28, 2006, which
claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2005-0026936 filed on Mar. 31, 2005, whose
entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a drier, and more
particularly, to a laundry drier capable of reducing manufacturing
costs and simplifying an assembling process by allowing one side
cabinet to be compatibly used for a left cabinet and a right
cabinet, simultaneously.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A drum drier is an electronic appliance for receiving wet
laundry in the inside of a drying drum and drying the laundry by
circulating dry air in the inside of the drying drum.
[0006] In detail, the drum dryer is classified into a condensing
drier that dries the laundry received in a drying drum by
circulating air between the drying drum and a heater, and an
exhaust drier where air flows into the drier, and is heated by a
heater, flows into a drying drum to dry the laundry, and is then
discharged to the outside.
[0007] In more detail, in the case of the exhaust drier, air heated
while passing through the heater flows into the drying drum and
fluff contained in the air is filtered while the air that has
flowed into the drying drum passes through a lint filter mounted in
front of the drying drum. Also, the air that has passed through the
lint filter is discharged to an indoor along an exhaust duct formed
in the lower end of the drier.
[0008] A related art laundry drier includes a cabinet mounted on
its exterior in order to make an appearance elegant and protect the
drying drum and various parts mounted in the inside of the drier.
In detail, the cabinet includes a front cover and a back cover
mounted in the front and back sides of the drying drum,
respectively, to support the drying drum, and side covers mounted
in both lateral sides of the drying drum. Also, a discharge port is
formed in a predetermined location in the inside of the side covers
to discharge humid air that has passed through the drying drum to
an indoor. Also, the discharge port may be generally formed in the
lower rear side of the side covers.
[0009] However, since a side cover mounted in a related art laundry
drier is formed to have only one discharge port in the lower rear
end of the side cover, a left side cover and a right side cover
should be manufactured separately. For example, when the right side
cover having a discharge port in the lower rear end is mounted in
the left side, the discharge port is positioned at the lower front
end, which does not match with a discharge port formed in the
lateral side of a base.
[0010] Therefore, since the left and right side covers should be
separately manufactured, manufacturing costs increase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry
drier that substantially obviates one or more problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry
drier capable of reducing manufacturing costs by allowing one kind
of side cover to be compatibly used as a left side cover or a right
side cover.
[0013] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, there is provided a laundry drier
including: a base having an air passage formed in an inside of the
base, and at least one discharge port for discharging air that has
flowed into the air passage; a drying drum provided above the base
to receive the laundry; a front cover mounted in front of the
drying drum; a back cover mounted in the rear side of the drying
drum; a top cover mounted above the drying drum; and side covers
mounted in the lateral sides of the drying drum and having at least
two discharge holes.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a laundry drier including: a drying drum for receiving the
laundry; a base provided below the drying drum and having discharge
ports formed in both sides of the base, for discharging air that
has flowed from the drying drum; and a cabinet provided on the
exterior of the drying drum, wherein the cabinet includes a top
cover mounted above the drying drum, a front cover and a back cover
mounted on the front and rear sides of the drying drum,
respectively, and two side covers mounted on the lateral sides of
the drying drum and having at least two discharge holes.
[0016] In a further another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a laundry drier including: a drying drum; a base having
an air passage for air discharged from the drying drum, and at
least one side discharge port for discharging air that has flowed
into the air passage; a front cover mounted in front of the drying
drum; a back cover mounted on the rear side of the drying drum; a
top cover mounted above the drying drum; and two side covers
mounted on both lateral sides of the drying drum, having cabinet
bead recessed toward the inside of each of the side covers, and two
or more discharge holes, at least one of the discharge holes
communicating with the side discharge port.
[0017] According to the present invention, one kind side cover may
be simultaneously used for the left and right side cabinets, which
reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies an assembly process.
[0018] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a laundry drier
according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base's appearance mounted
in the laundry drier according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base lower part according
to the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base upper part according
to the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating air flow moving along the
interior of a base according to the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side view of a laundry drier in which side
covers are mounted according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, the present
invention should not be construed as being limited to those
preferred embodiments set forth herein, and it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that addition, modification, and
deletion of another element may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a laundry drier
according to the present invention.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the laundry drier 10 includes: a drying
drum 14 for receiving the laundry; a cabinet 11 mounted in the
exterior of the drying drum 14 to protect the drying drum 14; a
base 20 installed below the drying drum 14 and having an air
passage for discharged air formed in the inside of the base; and a
motor 15 seated on the base 20 to rotate the drying drum 14.
[0029] In detail, the cabinet 11 includes a front cover 111 for
supporting the front side of the drying drum 14, side covers 112
mounted on the left and right sides of the drying drum 14,
respectively, a back cover 114 for supporting the rear side of the
drying drum 14, and a top cover 113 positioned atop the front, side
and rear covers 111, 112 and 114, respectively.
[0030] Also, the laundry drier 10 further includes: a door 12
rotatably mounted in the front side of the front cover 111, for
opening/closing a front opening of the drying drum 14 so that the
laundry is received into the drying drum 14; a control panel 13
mounted on the upper portion of the door 12 and having a drying
condition setting button and an operation button; a drying duct 17
mounted on the rear side of the back cover 114 to guide sucked
external air to the drying drum; and a heater 16 mounted within the
drying duct 17 to heat air sucked from an indoor.
[0031] In operation, a user opens the door 12, inserts the laundry
into the drying drum 14, and then inputs drying conditions using an
input part provided on the control panel 13. When a user presses
the operation button, the motor 15 is driven and the heater 16
mounted within the drying duct 17 is heated. Also, a suction blower
mounted in the rear side of the base 20 rotates to suck indoor air
to the inside of the drier 10.
[0032] In detail, the indoor air flows into the drying duct 17
through an external air suction port formed in the lower end of the
back cover 114, and is heated to high temperature while passing
through the drying duct 17. Also, the indoor air heated to the high
temperature flows into the drying drum 14 through a rear wall of
the drying drum 14. The high temperature air that has flowed into
the drying drum 14 absorbs moisture contained in the laundry to
change into a state of high temperature and high humidity. The air
that has changed into the state of high temperature and high
humidity gets out of the drying drum 14 and filters foreign
substances such as fluffs while passing through a lint filter (not
shown) formed in the front cover 111.
[0033] Also, air that has passed through the lint filter moves
along a discharge passage formed in the base 20 and is finally
discharged again to the outside of the laundry drier 10, i.e., the
indoor.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base's appearance mounted
in the laundry drier according to the present invention.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, the base 20 mounted in the laundry
drier of the present invention includes: a base lower part 21 on
which the motor 15 is seated and in the upper inside side of which
an air passage for discharged air; and a base upper part 22 for
covering the air passage to allow the discharged air to flow in a
predetermined direction without being scattered.
[0036] In detail, the base lower part 21 and the base upper part 22
are manufactured by plastic injection and coupled to each other
together using a fastening member. Also, the base 20 includes a
drum connection port 203 formed at a predetermined height on the
front side of the base 20, a side discharge port 201 formed in the
side of the base 20, and a back discharge port 202 formed in the
back of the base 20.
[0037] Also, the motor 15 is seated on the upper side portion of
the base 20, and a blower is mounted on a rotational shaft of the
motor 15 to suck air of the inside of the drying drum. The blower
is protected by a blower cover 23.
[0038] With the above structure, air in a state of high temperature
and high humidity discharged to the front side of the drying drum
14 flows into the drum connection port 203, and is discharged into
the indoor through the side discharge port 201 or the back
discharge port 202. Here, the air passage formed within the base 20
will be described later in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower part of a base
according to the present invention.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 3, the base 20 includes the base lower
part 21 and the base upper part 22 seated on the base lower part 21
as described above.
[0041] In detail, the lower portion of the air passage through
which air discharged from the drying drum 14 moves is formed in the
upper surface of the base lower part 21. The base upper part 22 is
coupled to the base lower part 21 to form a complete air
passage.
[0042] In more detail, a drum air falling groove 205 to which air
that has passed through the drying drum 14 falls is formed in the
front side of the base lower part 21. A blower entry 206 serving as
a passage through which the air is sucked toward the blower is
formed in one side of the drum air falling groove 205. Also, a
blower seat 211 on which the blower is seated is formed in the
blower entry 206, and an pipe extension 212 curved in a
predetermined curvature radius and having an increasing diameter
extends from the blower entry 206. Also, a main passage 213 is
formed long from a point where the pipe extension 212 terminates to
the rear end of the base lower part 21.
[0043] Also, a sub-passage 214 is formed in a direction crossing
the main passage 213, so that a side discharge port 201 is formed
to pass through both sides of the base lower part 21. Also,
condensed water falling grooves 214a are formed at a predetermined
depth in the passages located in the back discharge port 202 and
the side discharge port 201 to allow condensed water that is
generated while discharged air is condensed to be gathered in the
condensed water falling grooves 214a. Also, a passage intersecting
point 215 where the main passage 213 and the sub-passage 214
intersect is formed to relatively close to the edge of the backside
from the central portion of the base lower part 21. That is, the
sub-passage 214 is located more closely to the backside than the
front side of the base lower part 21.
[0044] Also, at least one guide rib 217 is protruded on the upper
surface of the base lower part 21 to allow the base upper part 22
to be guided and properly seated on the base lower part 21.
Fastening hooks 219 are protruded at a predetermined height along
the edges of the main passage 213 and the sub-passage 214 to allow
the base upper part 22 to be closely coupled to the base lower part
21. Also, a plurality of fastening grooves 216 are formed in the
upper surface of the base lower part 21 to allow fastening members,
by which the base lower part 21 is fastened to the base upper part
22, to pass through the base lower part 21. In detail, the
fastening grooves 216 are formed in both corners of the sub-passage
214 and both corners of the main passage 213 to face each
other.
[0045] Also, an external air suction port 204 is formed in the
backside of the base lower part 21 to allow external air into the
drying drum through the drying duct 17. Also, a lint inflow
prevention groove 207 recessed at a predetermined depth is formed
in front of the external air suction port 204 to collect foreign
substances such as fluffs contained in indoor air sucked through
the external air suction port 204. In detail, a small amount of air
having high temperature and high humidity that leaks from a fine
gap formed in a coupling portion of the base upper part 22 and the
base lower part 21 may be contained in the indoor air flowing into
the drying drum through the external air suction port 204. Also,
air moving along the passages may contain floating fluffs while
passing through the drying drum 14. However, the foreign substances
contained in the air sucked through the external air suction port
204 are accumulated in the lint inflow prevention groove 207, which
reduces the amount of the foreign substances flowing into the
drying duct 17.
[0046] A lint inflow prevention threshold 218 is formed long at a
predetermined height along the edge of the lint inflow prevention
groove 207. In detail, the lint inflow prevention threshold 218
primarily prevents foreign substances that leak from a gap formed
at a coupling portion of the base upper part 22 and the base lower
part 21. Also, air primarily filtered by the lint inflow prevention
threshold 218 is filtered at the lint inflow prevention groove
207.
[0047] Also, a motor seat 215a for seating the motor 15 thereon,
and a motor supporter insert port 215b for receiving a motor
supporter (not shown) supporting the motor 15, are formed in an
inner space located between the blower seat 211 and the sub-passage
214.
[0048] With the above structure, air in a high temperature and high
humidity state that falls down through the drum air falling groove
205 flows to the blower seat 211 through the blower entry 206. The
air that has flowed to the blower seat 211 moves to the main
passages 213 along the pipe extension 212. Also, the air that has
moved to the main passage 213 is scattered at the passage
intersecting point 215 and discharged to the indoor through one of
the side discharge ports 201 and the back discharge port 202.
[0049] Here, only one of the two side discharge ports 201 and the
back discharge port 202 is opened by a cap, and the rest two ports
may be closed, or all of the discharge ports may be opened by a
user's selection. Therefore, when only one discharge port is
opened, the air scattered toward closed discharge ports is
condensed into water while the air circulates through the passages,
and the condensed water is stored in the condensed water falling
grooves 214a. Also, even when all of the discharge ports are
opened, condensed water generated while the air passes through the
discharge ports 201 and 202 falls down to the condensed water
falling grooves 214a.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base upper part according
to the present invention.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 4, the base upper part 22 is seated on the
base lower part 21.
[0052] In detail, the base upper part 22 has the same shape as that
of the passages formed in the upper surface of the base lower part
21 to seal the upper surface of the passages. Also, the drum
connection port 203 is formed in the front end of the base upper
part 22 to serve as an entry through which air of high temperature
and high humidity coming out from the drying drum 14 to the above
passages.
[0053] In detail, the drum connection port 203 is formed at the
upper end of the drum connection duct 221 formed at a predetermined
height from the base upper part 22. Also, a blower connection part
221a is formed in the side of the drum connection duct 221 to allow
the air that descends through the drum connection part 203 to move
to the blower entry 206 formed in the base lower part 21.
[0054] Also, a main passage cover 222 for covering the pipe
extension 212 and the main passage 213 formed in the base lower
part 21, and a sub-passage cover 223 for covering the sub-passage
214 are formed in the base upper part 22. The main passage cover
222 and the sub-passage cover 223 mutually intersect. A humidity
sensor seat 226 is formed in one point of the main passage cover
222. A humidity sensor is seated on the humidity sensor seat 226 to
measure the humidity of air flowing through the main passage
213.
[0055] Also, fastening hook inset holes 225 are formed along the
lower edges of the main passage cover 222 and the sub-passage cover
223 to receive the fastening hooks 219 formed with a constant
interval along the base lower part 21. Also, a fastening elements
224 are formed at both corner ends of the sub-passage cover 223 and
the corner ends of the main passage cover 222 to allow the base
upper part 22 to be more closely coupled to the base lower part 21.
In detail, a fastening member inserted into a fastening hole 224a
formed in the fastening element 224 is inserted into a
corresponding fastening groove 216 formed in the base lower part 21
to more closely couple the base lower part 21 to the base upper
part 22. Accordingly, a gap between the base upper part 22 and the
base lower part 21 is not generated. That is, the gap between the
base upper part 22 and the base lower part 21 is minimized, which
prevents air flowing through the passages from leaking and flowing
to the external suction port 204.
[0056] With the above structure, the air of high temperature and
high humidity coming out from the drying drum 14 descends through
the drum connection port 203, and flows into the blower entry 206
along the blower connection part 221a. The air that has flowed to
the blower entry 206 moves along the pipe extension 212, the main
passage 213, and the sub-passage 214. The air moving along the main
passage 213 and the sub-passage 214 is condensed while moving and
discharged to the indoor through the back discharge port 202 and/or
the side discharge ports 201.
[0057] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating airflow moving along the
interior of a base according to the present invention.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 5, as described above, the air that has
passed through the drying drum 14 is filtered to remove foreign
substance contained in the air while passing through the lint
filter mounted in the front cover 111, falls down to the drum
connection port 203, and then moves the blower entry 206 formed at
the end of the blower connection part 221a.
[0059] Also, the air that has moved to the blower entry 206 changes
its flowing direction by the rotating blower seated on the blower
seat 211 formed in the end of the blower entry 206. The air that
has changed its flowing direction by the blower moves to the pipe
extension 212, changes again its flowing direction while moving
through the pipe extension 212, and moves to the back of the base
20. Part of the air moving along the main passage 213 is scattered
to flow toward the sub-passage 214 at the passage intersecting
point 215 where the main passage 213 and the sub-passage 214
intersect. The air scattered to the main passage 213 and the
sub-passage 214 is discharged again to the indoor through the back
discharge port 202 and/or the side discharge ports 201. Here, while
the air of the high temperature and high humidity that comes from
the drying drum 14 moves from the drum connection port 203 to the
discharge ports 201 and 202, the temperature of the air decreases,
which may condense vapor contained in the air into water. Also, the
condensed water is collected in the condensed water falling grooves
214a formed on the bottom of the main passage 213 and the
sub-passage 214.
[0060] External air flowing from the backside of the drying drum
14, namely, indoor air having the same temperature and humidity as
those of the indoor flows into the laundry drier through the
external air suction port 204 formed in the backside of the base
20, and moves into the drying drum 14 along the drying duct 17.
Here, the air sucked through the external air suction port 204 is
the indoor air existing in the interior of the cabinet 11 of the
laundry drier 10. As described above, foreign substances such as
fluffs contained in the indoor air sucked through the external air
suction port 204 is primarily filtered by the lint inflow
prevention threshold 218 and the lint inflow prevention groove
207.
[0061] FIG. 6 is a side view of a laundry drier in which side
covers are mounted according to the present invention.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 6, the laundry drier 10 surrounds the
exterior of the drying drum 14 using the cabinet 11 in order to
protect the drying drum 14.
[0063] In detail, the cabinet 11 includes the side covers 112
mounted on the lateral sides of the drying drum 14. In more detail,
at least one cabinet bead 112a is vertically recessed toward the
inside of one of the side covers 112 with a predetermined interval.
Each of the upper end and the lower end of the cabinet bead 112a is
curved with a predetermined curvature radius.
[0064] A circular discharge hole 300 having the same radius as the
curvature radius of the curved portion formed at vertical both ends
of the cabinet bead 112a is formed in the lower end of the cabinet
bead 112a.
[0065] Here, two discharge holes 300 are formed in the front and
rear sides of each of the side covers 112, respectively, and
symmetrically formed with respect to a vertical line passing
through the center of each of the side covers 112. Also, the
discharge hole 300 is formed in a position corresponding to each of
the side discharge ports 201 formed in the base 20.
[0066] Therefore, even when one of the side covers 112 is mounted
on the left or right side, one of the discharge holes 300 matches
with one of the side discharge ports 201 of the base 20.
[0067] Since the discharge holes 300 are symmetrically formed in
the front and rear sides of each of the side covers 112, so that
each of the side covers 112 may be compatibly used for the left or
right side of the laundry drier 10. That is, one kind of side cover
10 may be compatibly assembled on the left and right sides of the
laundry drier 10 without separately manufacturing a left side cover
and a right side cover.
[0068] When the side covers 112 according to the present invention
are assembled on the left and right sides of the laundry drier 10,
four discharge holes 300 are formed. Therefore, the discharge holes
300 that match with the side discharge ports 201 are opened, and
the rest two or three discharge holes 300 are closed using a
separate cap (not shown) sealing the discharge holes 300.
[0069] According to the present invention, one kind of side cover
may be compatibly used as the left and right side covers of the
laundry drier, which reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies the
assembling process of the laundry drier.
[0070] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *