Laundry system

• US 10,253,440 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Underly, Kristina K., Tomasi, Donald M., Conrad, Daniel C., Sunshine, Richard A., Kendall, James W., Viswanathan, Ameresh B., Achterberg, Lorraine L., Doyle, Colleen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko, Jason Y
• Application Number:
  US15/581,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20170233920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/17 Drawers used in connection with household appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 46/005 by displacement in a vertical plane; by rotating about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/40 Sliding drawers; Slides or guides therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/42 Vertically-oriented drawers, i.e. drawers where the height exceeds the width
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/919 Accessories or additional elements for drawers, e.g. drawer lighting drawers having organising or sorting means A47B88/969
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/00 Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/005 the other separate apparatus being a drying appliance
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/02 with liquid-extracting apparatus with roller wringer D06F45/12
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/04 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/125 Supporting arrangements for the casing, e.g. rollers or legs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 81/06 attachable to independent supports, e.g. walls

Abstract

A laundry system includes a laundry appliance having a front-loading wash chamber in which a first clothes load can be washed and a module above the front-loading wash chamber. The module includes a rotatably mounted wash basket defining a top-loading wash chamber in which a second clothes load can be washed.

Claims

1. A laundry system comprising:

a laundry appliance having a front-loading wash chamber for washing a first clothes load; and

a module vertically above the front-loading wash chamber for washing a second clothes load, the module comprising a rotatably mounted wash basket defining a top-loading wash chamber, wherein;

the module has a height less than a height of the laundry appliance; and

the top-loading wash chamber has a low capacity relative to a capacity of the front-loading wash chamber; and

wherein the module has an open configuration in which the top-loading wash chamber is accessible and a closed configuration in which the top-loading wash chamber is inaccessible.

2. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the laundry appliance is a first of two laundry appliances and the module is a first of two modules, the laundry system further comprising:

a second laundry appliance horizontally arranged next to the first laundry appliance and having a front-loading drying chamber; and

a second module vertically arranged above the second laundry appliance and horizontally arranged relative to the first module;

wherein;

the first laundry appliance performs a washing function;

the first module performs a washing function;

the second laundry appliance performs a drying function; and

the second module performs a non-tumble drying function.

3. The laundry system of claim 2, wherein the second module that performs the non-tumble drying function includes a drying chamber having a drying rack.

4. The laundry system of claim 3, wherein the drying rack is removably mounted.

5. The laundry system of claim 3, wherein the drying rack comprises a rack frame.

6. The laundry system of claim 3, wherein the second module that performs the non-tumble drying function provides forced air to dry fabric items.

7. The laundry system of claim 3, wherein the second module that performs the non-tumble drying function incorporates refreshing functions.

8. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the module is a stand-alone unit.

9. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the module is coupled to the laundry appliance as a requirement for operation of the module.

10. The laundry system of claim 1, further comprising a control panel provided on the laundry appliance.

11. The laundry system of claim 1, further comprising a control panel for the module to enable a user to select a wash cycle from among a plurality of cycles, wherein the control panel is capable of:

receiving input from the user regarding operational modes for the module; and

communicating output related to an operational status of the module to the user.

12. The laundry system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of cycles includes a delicate wash cycle.

13. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the module is coupled to the laundry appliance to support operation of the laundry appliance.

14. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the module comprises a cabinet separate from the laundry appliance.

15. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the module comprises a cabinet and a drawer slidably mounted to the cabinet.

16. The laundry system of claim 1 wherein the module comprises a detergent dispenser.

17. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the module is adapted for gentle washing of fabric items.

18. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the module and the laundry appliance have respective left walls that form a generally continuous left surface and respective right walls that form a generally continuous right surface.

19. The laundry system of claim 18, wherein the module and the laundry appliance have respective front walls that form a generally continuous front surface.

20. The laundry system of claim 18, wherein the module can be remotely controlled.