Laundry system

• US 10,260,189 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• 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:
  US15/581,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20170233921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 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 washing machine having a first wash chamber and a washing module below the first wash chamber. The washing module includes a drawer and a rotatably-mounted wash basket defining a second wash chamber with a low capacity relative to a capacity of the first wash chamber.

Claims

1. A laundry system comprising:

a washing machine for washing a first clothes load and having a first wash chamber; and

a washing module below the first wash chamber for washing a second clothes load by subjecting the second clothes load to a wash process wherein wash liquid is used to clean the second clothes load, the washing module comprising;

a drawer capable of forward extension relative to a front of the washing machine;

a rotatably mounted wash basket provided in the drawer and defining a second wash chamber;

wherein the second wash chamber has a low capacity relative to a capacity of the first wash chamber; and

wherein the washing module is capable of performing a washing operation independently of a washing operation performed by the washing machine.

2. The laundry system of claim 1 wherein the wash basket comprises an upwardly-facing open top.

3. The laundry system of claim 2 wherein the drawer is movable between an open position in which the second wash chamber is accessible and a closed position in which the second wash chamber is inaccessible.

4. The laundry system of claim 1 wherein the drawer is movable relative to the front of the washing machine between:

a closed position, in which the second wash chamber is inaccessible to a user and the drawer is flush with the front of the washing machine, and an open position, in which the drawer is extended forwardly from the front of the washing machine and the second wash chamber is accessible to the user.

5. The laundry system of claim 1 wherein the washing module further comprises a tub supported by the drawer, and wherein the wash basket is rotatably mounted within the tub.

6. The laundry system of claim 5 wherein the tub comprises an imperforate tub.

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

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

9. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the washing module comprises a cabinet separate from the washing machine, and the drawer is slidably mounted to the cabinet.

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

11. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the washing module is coupled to the washing machine as a requirement for operation of the washing module.

12. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the washing module is coupled to the washing machine to support operation of the washing machine.

13. The laundry system of claim 1, further comprising a control panel provided on the washing machine.

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

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

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

15. The laundry system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of wash cycles includes a delicate wash cycle.

16. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the washing module is coupled to the washing machine to support operation of the washing machine.

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

18. The laundry system of claim 17, wherein the washing module and the washing machine have respective front walls that form a generally continuous front surface.

19. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the washing module can be remotely controlled.

20. The laundry system of claim 1, wherein the washing machine comprises a top-loading washing machine.

21. The laundry system of claim 20 wherein the wash basket comprises an upwardly-facing open top.

22. A laundry system comprising:

a washing machine for washing a first clothes load and having a first wash chamber; and

a washing module below the first wash chamber for washing a second clothes load by subjecting the second clothes load to a wash process wherein wash liquid is used to clean the second clothes load, the washing module comprising;

a rotatably mounted wash basket defining a second wash chamber to which liquid is supplied; and

wherein the second wash chamber has a low capacity relative to a capacity of the first wash chamber; and

wherein the washing module is capable of performing a washing operation independently of a washing operation performed by the washing machine.