Laundry system

• US 10,443,176 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• 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:
  US16/021,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20180305850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 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 at least one laundry appliance and at least one laundry module below the laundry appliance. The laundry module has a height that is less than the height of the laundry appliance and has a drawer, a tub within the drawer, a wash chamber within the tub for receiving fabric items to be washed, and a control panel for the selection of a wash cycle.

Claims

1. A laundry system comprising:

a laundry appliance defining a width; and

a module below the laundry appliance and having a drawer, a tub within the drawer, a wash chamber within the tub for receiving fabric items to be washed, and a control panel for selection of a wash cycle;

wherein the module has a height less than the height of the laundry appliance and a width approximately equal to the width of the laundry appliance.

2. The laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the module comprises a cabinet and the laundry appliance is supported on the cabinet.

3. The laundry system according to claim 2 wherein the cabinet comprises an open face, and the drawer is slidably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened and a closed position relative to the open face.

4. The laundry system according to claim 3 wherein the control panel is mounted on the drawer.

5. The laundry system according to claim 3 wherein the wash chamber is supported by the drawer.

6. The laundry system according to claim 5 wherein the module comprises a wash basket supported by the drawer and defining the wash chamber.

7. The laundry system according to claim 5 wherein the wash chamber is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the opened position.

8. The laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the module is a stand-alone unit that does not require physical connection to the laundry appliance for operation.

9. The laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the module has a lower capacity for fabric items than the laundry appliance.

10. The laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the module can be controlled remotely.

11. A laundry system comprising:

a module having a drawer, a tub within the drawer, a wash chamber within the tub for receiving fabric items to be washed, and a control panel for selection of a wash cycle;

a front-loading washing machine supported in an elevated position on the module; and

wherein the module has a height less than the height of the front-loading washing machine.

12. The laundry system according to claim 11 wherein the module comprises a cabinet and the front-loading washing machine is supported on the cabinet.

13. The laundry system according to claim 12 wherein the cabinet comprises an open face, and the drawer is slidably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened and a closed position relative to the open face.

14. The laundry system according to claim 13 wherein the control panel is mounted on the drawer.

15. The laundry system according to claim 13 wherein the wash chamber is supported by the drawer.

16. The laundry system according to claim 15 wherein the module comprises a wash basket supported by the drawer and defining the wash chamber.

17. The laundry system according to claim 15 wherein the wash chamber is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the opened position.

18. The laundry system according to claim 11 wherein the module is a stand-alone unit that does not require physical connection to the front-loading washing machine for operation.

19. The laundry system according to claim 11 wherein the module has a lower capacity for fabric items than the front-loading washing machine.

20. The laundry system according to claim 11 wherein the module can be controlled remotely.