U.S. patent number RE49,038 [Application Number 16/150,515] was granted by the patent office on 2022-04-19 for laundry treating apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Sogkie Hong, Ayeong Lee, Jiyeon Min, Jiyoung Park.
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United States Patent |
RE49,038 |
Park , et al. |
April 19, 2022 |
Laundry treating apparatus
Abstract
A laundry treating apparatus is provided. The laundry treating
apparatus may include a cabinet having a receiving space in which
laundry is received, a supply device supplying at least one of air
or moisture into the receiving space, and a presser provided in the
receiving space, the presser including a support device to support
the laundry and a compression device to compress the laundry
supported by the support device to form a crease in the
laundry.
Inventors: |
Park; Jiyoung (Seoul,
KR), Min; Jiyeon (Seoul, KR), Lee;
Ayeong (Seoul, KR), Hong; Sogkie (Seoul,
KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
51167784 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/150,515 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15950943 |
Apr 11, 2018 |
RE48205 |
|
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Reissue of: |
14332161 |
Jul 15, 2014 |
9309618 |
Apr 12, 2016 |
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Reissue of: |
14332161 |
Jul 15, 2014 |
9309618 |
Apr 12, 2016 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 17, 2013 [KR] |
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10-2013-0083997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
58/10 (20130101); D06F 73/02 (20130101); D06F
71/30 (20130101); D06F 67/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
58/10 (20060101); D06F 67/00 (20060101); D06F
71/30 (20060101); D06F 73/02 (20060101) |
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Other References
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Primary Examiner: Till; Terrence R
Attorney, Agent or Firm: KED & Associates, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
.[.1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising: a cabinet having a
receiving space to receive laundry; a door rotatably coupled to the
cabinet to open and close an access opening of the receiving space;
a supply device that supplies at least one of air or moisture into
the receiving space; and a presser provided at an inner surface of
the door, facing an interior of the receiving space in a closed
position of the door, the presser including a support device
configured to support the laundry in the receiving space and a
compression device configured to compress the laundry between the
compression device and the support device, wherein the support
device is fixed to the inner surface of the door, and the
compression device is rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the
door so as to rotate relative to the support device and selectively
extend across the support device..].
.[.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compression device
includes: a body rotatably coupled to an inner circumferential
surface of the door and configured to rotate to a position against
the support device so as to compress the laundry supported by the
support device between the support device and the compression
device; and a body through hole formed through the body..].
.[.3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the compression device
further includes a mesh panel provided in the body through
hole..].
.[.4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the compression device
further includes at least one compression plate provided at the
body and configured to compress a corresponding portion of the
laundry toward the support device..].
.[.5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one
compression plate includes: a first compression plate fixed to the
body; and a second compression plate fixed to the body, spaced
apart from the first compression plate by a predetermined
distance..].
.[.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the door further includes a
presser receiving groove formed as a recess in the inner surface of
the door, and the support device includes at least one support
plate provided in the presser receiving groove..].
.[.7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support device further
includes at least one elastic device provided in the presser
receiving groove to elastically support the at least one support
plate..].
.[.8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one support
plate includes: a first support plate provided in a longitudinal
direction in the presser receiving groove and configured to support
the laundry; and a second support plate provided in the
longitudinal direction in the presser receiving groove and
configured to support the laundry, the second support plate being
spaced apart from the first support plate by a predetermined
distance, and wherein the at least one elastic device includes: a
first elastic device elastically supporting the first support plate
in the presser receiving groove; and a second elastic device
elastically supporting the second support plate in the presser
receiving groove..].
.[.9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first support plate and
the second support plate are each spaced apart from the presser
receiving groove by a predetermined distance by the first elastic
device and the second elastic device, respectively, and the first
and second support plates each include at least one through hole
extending therethrough..].
.[.10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a through hole formed in a
body of the compression device guides heated air or moisture
generated by the supply device from the receiving space to the
laundry supported on the supporting device, and through holes in
the support device guide the heated air or moisture which has
passed through the laundry back to the supply device..].
.[.11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the door further includes
a laundry support bar configured to have a first end portion of the
laundry fixed thereto, and the presser includes a fixing device
configured to have a second end portion of the laundry fixed
thereto such that the laundry is held in position between the
support device and the compression device by the laundry support
bar and the fixing device..].
.[.12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the laundry support bar
is positioned above the support device on the inner surface of the
door, and the fixing device is positioned below the support device
on the inner surface of the door..].
.[.13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including: a machinery
compartment provided under the receiving space, the machinery
compartment being partitioned from the receiving space, wherein the
supply device includes an air supply device provided in the
machinery compartment to supply heated air to the receiving space
and a moisture supply device provided in the machinery compartment
to supply steam to the receiving space..].
.[.14. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising: a cabinet having a
receiving space formed therein; a machinery compartment formed in
the cabinet, below the receiving space and partitioned from the
cabinet; a supply device provided in the machinery cabinet and
configured to supply at least one of heated air or moisture into
the receiving space; a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet so as
to selectively open and close an access opening into the receiving
space; and a presser provided on an interior wall defining the
receiving space, wherein the presser includes: a support device
provided on the interior wall and configured to support a laundry
item thereon; and a compression device rotatably coupled to the
interior wall, at a position corresponding to the support device,
and configured to rotate relative to the support device so as to
extend across the support device and compress the laundry item
between the support device and the compression device, wherein the
compression device includes: a body formed as a frame that is
rotatably coupled to the interior wall, the frame of the body
defining an opening; and a body through hole formed through the
body..].
.[.15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the support device
includes: first and second support plates positioned side by side,
with a space therebetween, in a presser receiving groove formed as
a recess in the interior wall; a first elastic device provided
between the first support plate and the presser receiving groove
and a second elastic device provided between the second support
plate and the presser receiving groove, the first and second
elastic devices elastically supporting the first and second support
plates and maintaining a predetermined gap between the first and
second support plates and the presser receiving groove,
respectively; and a plurality of first through holes formed in the
first support plate and a plurality of second through holes formed
in the second support plate..].
.[.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the compression device
further includes: a mesh panel provided in the opening formed in
the body, and a first compression plate and a second compression
plate coupled to the body, positioned side by side and spaced apart
from each other a predetermined distance, wherein the compression
device is rotatably coupled to the interior wall by a hinge
provided at a first lateral edge of the body, and wherein the
compression device and the support device are 10 selectively
coupled against each other by an attaching device provided at a
second lateral edge of the body of the compression device, opposite
the first lateral edge thereof..].
.[.17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the attaching device
includes a plurality of protrusions formed on one of the body of
the compression device or the interior wall of the receiving space,
and a corresponding plurality of receiving grooves formed in the
other of the body of the body of the compression device or the
interior wall of the receiving space, wherein the plurality of
protrusions are respectively received in the plurality of receiving
grooves to fix the compression device against the support device
and compress the laundry item received therebetween, and the
plurality of protrusions are released from the plurality of
receiving grooves to rotate the compression device away from the
support device..].
.[.18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein openings formed in the
mesh panel of the compression device guide the at least one of
heated air or moisture generated by the supply device to the
laundry item compressed between the compression device and the
support device, and the plurality of first through holes and the
plurality of second through holes respectively formed in the first
and second support plates of the support device guide the at least
one of heated air or moisture which has passed through the laundry
item into the presser receiving groove for discharge..].
.Iadd.19. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising: a cabinet
having a receiving space to receive laundry; a door rotatably
coupled to the cabinet to open and close an access opening of the
receiving space; a supply device that supplies at least one of air
or moisture into the receiving space; and a laundry press provided
at an inner surface of the door and facing an interior of the
receiving space in a closed position of the door, the laundry press
including a support and a compression device configured to compress
the laundry against the support, wherein the support is mounted on
the inner surface of the door, and the compression device is
provided to rotate relative to the support, and wherein the support
includes a first surface vertically extended along a length of the
support and configured to press the laundry with the compression
device, a second surface vertically extended along the length of
the support and provided a prescribed distance laterally from the
first surface and configured to press the laundry with the
compression device, and a space provided between the first surface
and the second surface, the space extending toward the inner
surface of the door relative to the first and second surfaces and
being configured to accommodate part of the laundry when the
compression device presses the laundry with the first surface and
the second surface. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein
portions of the support defining the first surface and the second
surface are mounted to the inner surface of the door adjacent the
space. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 20, wherein the
portions of the support defining the first surface and the second
surface are provided a prescribed distance away from the inner
surface of the door. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the
support further includes at least one elastic device to elastically
support the support. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the
first surface and the second surface are configured to move toward
the compression device by elastic force of the elastic device.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
first surface and the second surface are configured to contact the
compression device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
laundry is pants and the laundry press is configured to accommodate
seams of the pants in the space such that the seams are not pressed
while creases in the pants are pressed between the inner surface of
the compression device and the front surface of the support.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
support includes a first plate and a second plate, wherein the
first plate defines the first surface, and the second plate defines
the second surface, and wherein the space is provided between the
first plate and the second plate. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising: a cabinet
having a receiving space to receive laundry; a door rotatably
coupled to the cabinet to open and close an access opening of the
receiving space; a supply device that supplies at least one of air
or moisture into the receiving space; and a laundry press provided
at an inner surface of the door and facing an interior of the
receiving space in a closed position of the door, the laundry press
including a support and a compression device configured to compress
the laundry against the support, and a space that extends
vertically along a central region of the support, the space being
configured such that a prescribed region of the laundry is not
pressed by the compression device, wherein the support is mounted
on the inner surface of the door, and the compression device is
provided at the inner surface of the door so as to rotate relative
to the support, and wherein the support is provided a prescribed
distance from the inner surface of the door. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 27, wherein the
support includes a first surface vertically extended along a length
of the support and configured to press the laundry with the
compression device, and a second surface vertically extended along
the length of the support and provided a prescribed distance
laterally from the first surface and configured to press the
laundry with the compression device, and wherein the space is
configured to accommodate part of the laundry when the compression
device presses the laundry with the first surface and the second
surface. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 28, wherein
portions of the support defining the first surface and the second
surface are mounted to the inner surface of the door. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 29, wherein the
first surface and the second surface are provided a prescribed
distance away from the inner surface of the door. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 30, wherein the
support further includes at least one elastic device to elastically
support the movement of the support..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 31, wherein the
first surface and the second surface move toward the compression
device by elastic force of the elastic device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
first surface and the second surface are configured to contact the
compression device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 33, wherein the
laundry is pants, and the laundry press is configured to
accommodate seams of the pants in the space such that the seams are
not pressed while creases in the pants are pressed between the
inner surface of the compression device and the front surface of
the support. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
support includes a plurality of plates including a first plate and
a second plate, wherein the first plate defines the first surface,
and the second plate defines the second surface, and wherein the
space is provided between the first plate and the second plate.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 27, wherein the
support includes a plurality of plates, and wherein rear surfaces
of the plurality of plates are, respectively, spaced from the inner
surface of the door. .Iaddend.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
.[.This application.]. .Iadd.Notice: More than one reissue
application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No.
9,309,618 B2. The reissue applications are U.S. Reissue patent
application Ser. Nos. 16/150,515, 16/150,465, and 16/150,401, each
filed on Oct. 3, 2018, each of which is a continuation reissue
application of U.S. Reissue patent application Ser. No. 15/950,943,
filed on Apr. 11, 2018, which is a reissue application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/332,161, filed Jul. 15, 2014, now
U.S. Pat. No. 9,309,618 B2, issued Apr. 12, 2016 which
.Iaddend.claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Korean
.Iadd.Patent .Iaddend.Application No. 10-2013-0083997 filed on Jul.
17, 2013, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
This relates to a laundry treating apparatus.
2. Background
A laundry treating apparatus may perform various operations such
as, for example, washing, drying, deodorization, wrinkle removal,
and the like related to laundry. Such a laundry treating apparatus
may include a washer that washes laundry, a dryer that dries wet
laundry, and a refresher that deodorizes laundry or removes
wrinkles from the laundry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the
following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like
elements wherein:
FIGS. 1 and 4 are perspective views of a laundry treating
apparatus, FIG. 4 showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in operation,
according to embodiments as broadly described herein;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are side sectional views of the laundry treating
apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are top and side views of a presser of the laundry
treating apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; and
FIGS. 5A and 5B are top and side views of a presser according to
another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It
should be noted herein that construction of an apparatus, which
will hereinafter be described, and a control method of the
apparatus are given only for illustrative purposes and embodiments
are not limited thereto. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts.
A laundry treating apparatus may be capable of washing, drying, and
deodorizing laundry and removing wrinkles from the laundry, but may
still utilize a drum to receive laundry and a driving device to
rotate the drum, with deodorization of laundry or removal of
wrinkles from the laundry performed during rotation of the drum. If
the laundry is placed in the drum while it is still wrinkled/not
straightened, deodorization of laundry and/or removal of wrinkles
from the laundry may be adversely affected. Furthermore, such a
laundry treating apparatus does not include a device which may form
a crease in a laundry item, requiring further treatment by, for
example, an iron, after completion of washing or drying.
As shown in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 100 as embodied
and broadly described herein may include a cabinet 1, a laundry
receiving device 3 provided in the cabinet 1, a supply device to
supply at least one of air or moisture to the laundry receiving
device 3, and a presser 9 provided in the laundry receiving device
3.
The laundry receiving device 3 forms a receiving space 31 defined
in the cabinet 1 to receive laundry. The receiving space 31 may be
opened and closed by a door 11 provided at the cabinet 1.
A laundry support device to support laundry items may be provided
in the cabinet 1. The laundry support device may include a laundry
support bar 51 (hereinafter, referred to as a `first laundry
support bar`) provided in the receiving space 31 and a laundry
support bar 53 (hereinafter, referred to as a `second laundry
support bar`) provided at the door 11.
The first laundry support bar 51 may extend in a width direction of
the receiving space 31 (a width direction of the door) or in a
depth direction of the receiving space 31. In the exemplary
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first laundry support bar 51
extends in the width direction of the receiving space 31.
In this case, laundry may be supported by the first laundry support
bar 51 via engagement with a hook H provided on a hanger 200 on
which laundry items are received. Alternatively, the laundry may be
directly supported by the first laundry support bar 51, without the
hanger 200. In any case, the laundry items may be spread in the
receiving space 31 for treatment.
The second laundry support bar 53 provided at the door 11 may also
keep the laundry in a spread state by supporting the hook H of the
hanger 200. Alternatively, the second laundry support bar 53 may
extend in the width direction of the door 11 such that the laundry
may be directly supported by the second laundry support bar 53
without the hanger 200.
A machinery compartment 7 may be provided in the cabinet 1,
isolated from the receiving space 31. The supply device may be
provided in the machinery compartment 7.
As shown in FIG. 2, the machinery compartment 7 may be disposed
under the receiving space 31, and may be opened and closed by a
machinery compartment door 74. In a case in which air or moisture
to be supplied to the receiving space 31 by the supply device is
heated air or steam, the heated air or the steam may be uniformly
supplied into the receiving space 31 without an additional blower.
The supply device may include at least one of an air supply device
71 to supply air (heated air or unheated air) to the receiving
space 31 and/or a moisture supply device 72 to supply moisture
(steam or mist) to the receiving space 31.
Hereinafter, a description will be provided of a laundry treating
apparatus 100, as embodied and broadly described herein, based on a
case in which the supply device includes both the air supply device
71 and the moisture supply device 72 and the air supply device 71
supplies heated air to the receiving space 31 and the moisture
supply unit 72 supplies steam to the receiving space 31, simply for
convenience of description.
The air supply device 71 may include a circulation duct 711 to
circulate air in the receiving space 31, a heat exchanger 713 to
exchange heat with air flowing along the circulation duct 711, and
a blower 715 to blow air along the circulation duct 711 and into
the receiving space 31.
The circulation duct 711 communicates with the interior of the
receiving space 31 through an air discharge port 35 and an air
suction port 36 provided in the receiving space 31. The air
discharge port 35 and the air suction port 36 may be formed through
the bottom of the receiving space 31 such that the receiving space
31 may communicate with the machinery compartment 7 through the air
discharge port 35 and the air suction port 36. In a case in which
one end of the circulation duct 711 provided in the machinery
compartment 7 is connected to the air suction port 36 and the other
end of the circulation duct 711 is connected to the air discharge
port 35, the circulation duct 711 may communicate with the interior
of the receiving space 31.
The heat exchanger 713 may dehumidify and heat air introduced into
the circulation duct 711. In FIGS. 3A-3B, a heat pump is provided
as an example of the heat exchanger 713. In a case in which the
heat exchanger 713 is a heat pump, the heat exchanger 713 may
include an evaporator E provided in the circulation duct 711, a
condenser C disposed inside the circulation duct 711, and a
compressor P and an expansion device Ex disposed outside the
circulation duct 711. The evaporator E, the compressor P, the
condenser C, and the expansion device Ex may be connected to one
another via a refrigerant pipe 714.
The compressor P may compress a refrigerant to a high pressure such
that the refrigerant may be circulated along the refrigerant pipe
714. The evaporator E may absorb heat from air in the circulation
duct 711 to evaporate the refrigerant. The condenser C may
discharge heat to air in the circulation duct 711 to condense the
refrigerant.
The blower 715 may be disposed in the circulation duct 711 to
circulate air in the receiving space 31 through the circulation
duct 711. The blower 715 may be disposed between the condenser C
and the air discharge port 35.
When the blower 715 is driven, air in the circulation duct 711
moves into the receiving space 31 through the air discharge port 35
and air in the receiving space 31 moves into the circulation duct
711 through the air suction port 36. The air introduced into the
circulation duct 711 through the air suction port 36 is cooled
while passing though the evaporator E. The air having passed
through the evaporator E is heated while passing through the
condenser C.
When the air is cooled while passing through the evaporator E,
moisture is removed from the air (dehumidification) and the
moisture (condensed water) removed from the air remains on the
surface of the evaporator E or in the circulation duct 711.
In a case in which the condensed water remains in the circulation
duct 711, heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 713 is
lowered. For this reason, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may
include a drainage device to remove the condensed water produced by
the evaporator E.
The drainage device may include a drainage tank 745 detachably
provided at the machinery compartment door 74 and a drainage pipe
747 and a drainage pump 749 to supply condensed water in the
circulation duct 711 to the drainage tank 745.
The shape of the drainage tank 745 is not particularly restricted
so long as the drainage tank 745 provides a space to store liquid.
For example, the drainage tank 745 may include a drainage tank lid
7451 to discharge liquid stored in drainage tank 745 and an inlet
port 7453 to which the drainage pipe 747 is detachably
connected.
A check valve may be provided in the inlet port 7453 such that the
drainage pipe 747 is separated from the inlet port 7453 when the
machinery compartment door 74 opens the machinery compartment 7,
and the drainage pipe 747 is inserted into the inlet port 7453 when
the machinery compartment door 74 closes the machinery compartment
7. Water in the drainage tank 745 may also be prevented from
leaking out of the drainage tank 745 when the drainage tank 745 is
separated from the machinery compartment door 74.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the moisture supply device 72 may include a
storage device 721 provided in the machinery compartment 7, a
heater 725 provided in the storage device 721, and a moisture
supply pipe 727 to connect the storage device 721 to a moisture
discharge port 37.
The storage device 721 may store water, the heater 725 may heat
water stored in the storage device 721 to convert the water into
steam, and the moisture supply pipe 727 may guide steam from the
storage device 721 to the receiving space 31. Consequently , the
heater 725 may be provided adjacent to the bottom of the storage
device 721 and the moisture supply pipe 727 may be disposed at the
top (or the uppermost end) of the storage device 721.
Water is supplied to the storage device 721 through a water supply
device. The water supply device may include a water supply tank 743
detachably provided at the machinery compartment door 74.
The storage device 721 may also include a connection pipe 723,
which is connected to the water supply tank 743 when the machinery
compartment door 74 closes the machinery compartment 7 and is
separated from the water supply tank 743 when the machinery
compartment door 74 opens the machinery compartment 7.
The shape of the water supply tank 743 is not particularly
restricted as long as the water supply tank 743 is capable of
storing liquid. For example, the water supply tank 743 may include
a water supply tank lid 7431 to supply liquid into the water supply
tank 743, an outlet port 7433 into which the connection pipe 723 is
inserted, and a check valve 7435 provided in the outlet port
7433.
The water supply tank 743 may be detachably provided at the
machinery compartment door 74, taking into consideration a case in
which the laundry treating apparatus 100 according to the current
embodiment embodiment is installed remotely from a water supply
source.
That is, in a case in which the laundry treating apparatus 100 is
provided adjacent to the water supply source, the storage device
721 may receive water from the water supply source when necessary.
On the other hand, in a case in which the laundry treating
apparatus 100 is installed remotely from the water supply source,
water cannot be directly supplied, so the water supply tank 743 may
provide for a supply of water to the moisture supply device 72.
Rather than supplying heated water or steam into a drum during
rotation of the drum to deodorize laundry or remove wrinkles from
the laundry, the laundry treating apparatus 100 according to
embodiments as broadly described herein supplies heated water or
steam into the receiving space 31 while keeping laundry in a
straight, spread out manner in the receiving space 31, thereby
preventing the laundry from being wrinkled after the supply of
steam or heated water is completed.
The presser 9 shown in FIG. 1 may fix a crease in laundry received
in the receiving space using steam and heated water supplied to the
receiving space 31.
The presser 9 may be provided at any position in the receiving
space 31 as long as the steam and/or the heated water supplied into
the receiving space 31 can be supplied to laundry. FIG. 1 shows a
case in which the presser 9 is provided at the inner
circumferential surface of the door 11 (the surface of the door
forming one surface of the receiving space 31) by way of
example.
The presser 9 may include a support device 91 provided at the inner
circumferential surface of the door 11 to support laundry and a
compression device 93 rotatably provided at the support device 91
or the door 11 to compress the laundry supported by the support
device 91.
The compression device 93 may include a body 931 rotatably coupled
the inner circumferential surface of the door 11 or the support
device 91 and a mesh 937 provided at the body 931 to guide the
steam or the heated water introduced into the receiving space 31 to
the laundry supported by the support device 91.
FIG. 1 shows a case in which the body 931 is coupled to the door 11
by a body hinge 933 provided at an inner peripheral surface of the
door 11. An end of the body 931 opposite the hinged end may be
detachably fixed to the inner surface of the door 11 by attaching
and detaching device 971 and 973.
The attaching and detaching devices 971 and 973 may include a
protrusion 971 provided at one of the door 11 or the body 931 and a
receiving groove 973 provided at the other of the door 11 or the
body 931 such that each protrusion 971 may be detachably coupled
into a corresponding receiving groove 973.
The body 931 may include a body through hole 935 allowing the
support device 91 communicate with the receiving space 31. The mesh
937 may be provided in the body through hole 935, which is formed
through the body 931.
The support device 91 may include a support plate fixed to the
inner circumferential surface of the door 11, received in a presser
receiving groove 13 depressed in the inner surface of the door
11.
The support plate may include a first support plate 911 and a
second support plate 913 spaced apart from each other by a
predetermined distance although in certain embodiments the support
plate may be a single plate or board.
The support device 91 includes the first support plate 911 and the
second support plate 913 such that a seam of a laundry item
supported on this support device 91 may be positioned in a space S
defined between the first support plate 911 and the second support
plate 913 to prevent unnecessary wrinkles from being formed on the
laundry due to the seam when the laundry is compressed toward the
support device 91 by the compression device 93.
The first support plate 911 and the second support plate 913 may
include through holes 917 formed through the respective support
plates 911 and 913. The surfaces of the respective support plates
911 and 913 may be spaced apart from the surface of the presser
receiving groove 13 by a predetermined distance. As a result,
heated air or steam supplied through the mesh 937 may pass through
the laundry supported by the respective support plates 911 and 913
and then be discharged into the receiving space 31.
The support device 91 may also include an elastic member 915 to fix
the respective support plates 911 and 913 to the presser receiving
groove 13 such that the laundry supported by the respective support
plates 911 and 913 may come into tight contact with the body 931 of
the compression device 93 in a state in which the respective
support plates 911 and 913 are spaced apart from the surface of the
presser receiving groove 13 by the predetermined distance.
In a case in which the support device 91 includes both the first
support plate 911 and the second support plate 913, the elastic
member 915 may include a first elastic body 9151 to connect the
first support plate 911 to the presser receiving groove 13 and a
second elastic body 9153 to connect the second support plate 913 to
the presser receiving groove 13.
The shape of the elastic member 915 is not particularly restricted
as long as the elastic member 915 is capable of performing this
function. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the elastic member 915 have a board
or plate shape, by way of example.
That is, the elastic member 915 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B may be a
leaf spring formed by bending opposite ends of a metal plate toward
the middle of the metal plate, by way of example. In this case, the
middle of the leaf spring is fixed to the presser receiving groove
13 and the free ends of the leaf spring are fixed to the respective
support plates 911 and 913.
Fixing grooves 919, into which the free ends of the leaf spring are
inserted, may be further provided at the rear surfaces of the
respective support plates 911 and 913 facing the presser receiving
groove 13 such that the elastic member 915 may be easily coupled to
the support plates 911 and 913.
The presser 9 having the above-described structure may be operated
as shown in FIG. 4.
A user may fix a laundry item, such as trousers, having a crease
preformed thereon, on a hanger and connect a hook of the hanger to
the second laundry support bar 53 provided at the door 11 to
position the laundry at the support device 91. The user may adjust
the position of the laundry such that a sewing line SL, or seam, of
the laundry is positioned in the space S defined between the first
support plate 911 and the second support plate 913.
After the laundry is supported by the support device 91, the user
rotates the body 931 of the compression device 93 toward the
support unit 91 such that the protrusion(s) 971 provided at the
door 11 are inserted into the receiving grooves 973 provided at the
body 931 to fix the body 93 to the door 11.
In a case in which the laundry has a crease preformed thereon, the
user may adjust the position of the laundry such that the crease
may be compressed at interfaces between the body 931 and the
respective support plates 911 and 913. In a case in which the user
wishes to form a new crease on the laundry although the laundry has
no crease preformed thereon, the user may position the laundry at
the interfaces between the body 931 and the respective support
plates 911 and 913 such that the crease can be formed at a desired
position.
After the body 931 of the compression device 93 is fixed to the
door 11 by the attaching and detaching device 971 and 973, the user
closes the door 11 to close the receiving space 31 and then
operates at least one of the air supply device 71 or the moisture
supply device 72. Heated air or steam supplied into the receiving
space 31 through the air supply device 71 or the moisture supply
device 72 is supplied to the laundry through the mesh 937 provided
at the compression device 93. The heated air or steam supplied to
the laundry moves to the receiving space 31 via the presser
receiving groove 13 through the through holes 917 provided at the
respective support plates 911 and 913.
When the heated air or steam is supplied to the laundry fixed by
the presser 9, wrinkles are removed from the laundry and the crease
of the laundry positioned at an interface between the support
device 91 and the compression device 93 may be set.
Consequently, a laundry treating apparatus 100, as embodied and
broadly described herein, may form a crease on laundry as well as
deodorize the laundry and remove wrinkles from the laundry.
In certain embodiments, the compression device 93 may further
include a compression plate to more easily form the crease of the
laundry positioned at the interface between the support device 91
and the compression device 93. The compression plate may include a
first compression plate 938 and a second compression plate 939
fixed to the body 931 and extending in a longitudinal direction of
the laundry. The edge of the first compression plate 938 may be,
for example, parallel to that of the first support plate 911 and
the edge of the second support plate 913 may be, for example,
parallel to that of the second compression plate 939.
In certain embodiments, the presser 9 may also include a fixing
device 95 rotatably provided at the door 11 to more easily fix the
position of the laundry supported by the support device 91. The
fixing device 95 may include a fixing plate 951 formed in the shape
of a bar or a board and a fixing plate hinge 953 to rotatably fix
the fixing plate 951 to the inner surface of the door 11. In a case
in which the second laundry support bar 53 is provided above the
support device 91, the fixing device 95 may be positioned under the
support device 91.
FIG. 5A is a top view of a presser 9 provided in the laundry
treating apparatus 100 according to another embodiment as broadly
described herein. The presser 9 shown in FIG. 5A includes an
elastic member provided at a compression device 93 is different
from that of the elastic member provided at the presser shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4.
More specifically, the presser 9 according to this embodiment also
includes a support device 91 provided in the presser receiving
groove 13 and a compression device 93 rotatably provided at the
door 11 to compress laundry toward the support device 91. The
support device 91 includes a first support plate 911 and a second
support plate 913 provided in the presser receiving groove 13,
spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance S.
The compression device 93 may include a body 931 rotatably provided
at the inner surface of the door 11, a body through hole 935 formed
through the body 931, and a mesh 937 fixed in the body through hole
935.
The compression device 93 may also include a first compression
plate 938 supported at the body 931 by a first elastic body 9151
and a second compression plate 939 supported at the body 931 by a
second elastic body 9153. In this case, the first compression plate
938 and the second compression plate 939 may further include
through holes 917 formed through the respective compression plates
938 and 939 such that steam or heated air supplied through the mesh
937 may flow to the support device 91.
A presser 9 shown in 5B has essentially the same basic structure as
the presser 9 shown in FIG. 5A. However, in the presser 9 shown in
FIG. 5B, a first compression plate 938 and a second compression
plate 939 are connected to a body 931 via a link structure.
That is, the first compression plate 938 may be connected to the
body 931 via a first link 9155 and the second compression plate 939
may be connected to the body 931 via a second link 9157.
In certain embodiments, elastic bodies, such as springs, may also
be provided at interfaces between the respective links 9155 and
9157 and the respective compression plates 938 and 939, and at
interfaces between the respective links 9155 and 9157 and the body
931, such that the respective links 9155 and 9157 may return to
initial positions thereof when the body 931 is separated from a
support device 91.
The respective compression plates 938 and 939 may be connected to
the body 931 via the respective links 9155 and 9157 to prevent
wrinkles from being formed on laundry due to the respective
compression plates 938 and 939 when the body 931 is rotated toward
the support device 91.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or 5A, the respective compression
plates 938 and 939 may move in the width direction of the door 11
when the body 931 is coupled to the respective support plates 911
and 913. In a case in which the body 931 is coupled to the
respective support plates 911 and 913, unnecessary wrinkles or
creases may be formed on the laundry.
In the presser shown in FIG. 5B, on the other hand, the respective
compression plates 938 and 939 only move toward the surface of the
body 931 when the body 931 is coupled to the respective support
plates 911 and 913. As a result, wrinkles or creases are prevented
from being formed on the laundry due to respective compression
plates 938 and 939. To this end, the respective links 9155 and 9157
may be provided between the respective compression plates 938 and
939 and the body 931, inclined at a predetermined angle to connect
the respective compression plates 938 and 939 to the body 931.
A laundry treating apparatus is provided that is capable of easily
drying, deodorizing, and sterilizing laundry and easily removing
wrinkles from the laundry.
A laundry apparatus, as embodied and broadly described herein, may
include a cabinet having a receiving space to receive laundry. a
supply unit to supply at least one selected from between air and
moisture into the receiving space, and a presser including a
support unit provided in the receiving space to support the laundry
and a compression unit to compress the laundry supported by the
support unit to form a crease on the laundry.
The support unit may be fixed to an inner circumferential surface
of the receiving space, and the compression unit may be rotatably
provided at the inner circumferential surface of the receiving
space.
The laundry treating apparatus may also include a door rotatably
provided at the cabinet to open and close the receiving space,
wherein the presser may be provided at an inner circumferential
surface of the door facing the receiving space.
The support unit may be fixed to the inner circumferential surface
of the door, and the compression unit may be rotatably fixed to the
inner circumferential surface of the door.
The compression unit may include a body rotatably fixed to the
inner circumferential surface of the door to compress the laundry
support by the support unit, and a body through hole formed through
the body.
The compression unit may also include a mesh provided in the body
through hole.
The compression unit may also include a compression plate provided
at the body to compress the crease of the laundry toward the
support unit.
The compression plate may also include a first compression plate
and a second compression plate fixed to the body while being spaced
apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
The door may also include a presser receiving groove depressed in
an inner circumferential portion thereof, and the support unit may
include a support plate disposed in the presser receiving
groove.
The support unit may also include an elastic member provided in the
presser receiving groove to elastically support the support
plate.
The support plate may include a first support plate disposed in the
presser receiving groove to support the laundry in a longitudinal
direction and a second support plate disposed in the presser
receiving groove to support the laundry in the longitudinal
direction, the second support plate being spaced apart from the
first support plate by a predetermined distance, and the elastic
member may include a first elastic body to support the first
support plate and a second elastic body to support the second
support plate.
The first support plate and the second support plate may also
include through holes formed through the respective support plates,
and the first support plate and the second support plate may be
spaced apart from the presser receiving groove by a predetermined
distance due to the first elastic body and the second elastic
body.
The door may also include a laundry support bar to which one end of
the laundry is fixed, and the presser may further include a fixing
unit to fix the other end of the laundry supported by the laundry
support bar to the door.
The laundry support bar may be positioned above the support unit,
and the fixing unit may be positioned under the support unit.
The laundry treating apparatus may also include a machinery
compartment provided under the receiving space in a state in which
the machinery compartment is isolated from the receiving space,
wherein the supply unit may include an air supply unit provided in
the machinery compartment to supply heated air to the receiving
space and a moisture supply unit provided in the machinery
compartment to supply steam to the receiving space.
Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number
of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that
numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *