System and method for a combined laundry washer and dryer

• US 20070169519A1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Hershey, Leticia Hershey
• Original Assignee: John Hershey, Leticia Hershey
• Inventors: Hershey, Leticia, Hershey, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,320,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/3.R
• 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 73/02 having one or more treatment chambers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/00 Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries D06F31/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A combined laundry washer and dryer system is provided so that the user can wash a first load of laundry, start drying the first load, and wash a second load while the first load is drying. The system comprises a front-loadable washer on top of a dryer, and a second load compartment on top of the washer. A load of laundry is placed in the washer and a second load in the second load compartment. After washing the first load, the washer drops it into the dryer for drying. The second load compartment then drops the second load into the washer for washing. A side-mounted closet may be used to steam clean, dried laundry with air from the dryer. Conveyor belts may be used to move dirty laundry into the second load compartment and clean laundry from the dryer to a sorting area.

Claims

1. A combined laundry washer and dryer system, such that the user can wash a first load of laundry, start drying the first load, and wash a second load while the first load is drying, the combined laundry washer and dryer system comprising

a laundry washer, comprising

a drainage plate;

and

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door with access to a laundry dryer

beneath the washer;

a laundry dryer mounted beneath the laundry washer;

a second load compartment mounted on top of the laundry washer, the second load

compartment comprising a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door in the bottom of the second load compartment and with access to the washer;

means of loading laundry into the washer;

means of loading laundry detergents and softeners into the washer;

means of removing laundry from the dryer;

means of loading laundry into the second load compartment; and

controls.

2. The laundry washer of claim 1, wherein the laundry washer further comprises a front-loadable washer.

3. The means of loading laundry into the washer of claim 1, wherein the means of loading laundry into the washer comprises a front door on the washer.

4. The means of loading laundry into the washer of claim 1, wherein the means of loading laundry into the washer comprises the magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door in the bottom of the second load compartment.

5. The means of loading laundry detergents and softeners into the washer of claim 1, wherein the means of loading laundry detergents and softeners into the washer comprises

at least one fill hole for detergent mounted on the second load compartment and leading to a container area with machine-controlled access to the washer;

and

at least one fill hole for softener mounted on the second load compartment leading to a container area with machine-controlled access to the washer.

6. The means of removing laundry from the dryer of claim 1, wherein the means of removing laundry from the dryer comprises a front door on the dryer.

7. The means of removing laundry from the dryer of claim 1, wherein the means of removing laundry from the dryer comprises

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer;

a chute underneath the trap door on the bottom of the dryer; and

a hinged, spring-loaded front door opening from the chute.

8. The means of removing laundry from the dryer of claim 1, wherein the means of removing laundry from the dryer comprises

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer;

and

a conveyor belt underneath the magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer, such that the conveyor belt moves the laundry to a desired location.

9. The means of loading laundry into the second load compartment of claim 1, wherein the means of loading laundry into the second load compartment comprises a front door on the second load compartment.

10. The means of loading laundry into the second load compartment of claim 1, wherein the means of loading laundry into the second load compartment comprises

a hinged, spring loaded trap door on the top of the second load compartment;

and

a conveyor belt, such that the conveyor belt deposits laundry on the hinged, spring-loaded trap door on top of the second load compartment.

11. The combined laundry washer and dryer system of claim 1, wherein the combined laundry washer and dryer system further comprises

a side-mounted closet, such that the side-mounted closet steams laundry placed inside it, the side-mounted closet comprising

at least one hot air vent that extends from the dryer of the combined washer and dryer system into the side-mounted closet;

and a door.

12. A combined laundry washer and dryer system, such that the user can wash a first load of laundry, start drying the first load, and wash a second load while the first load is drying, the combined laundry washer and dryer system comprising

a front-loadable laundry washer, comprising

a front door;

a drainage plate in the bottom of the laundry washer; and

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door in the bottom of the laundry

washer and with access to a laundry dryer beneath the washer;

a laundry dryer mounted beneath the laundry washer;

a second load compartment mounted on top of the laundry washer, the second load

compartment comprising a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door in the bottom of the second load compartment and with access to the washer;

means of loading laundry detergents and softeners into the washer;

means of removing laundry from the dryer;

means of loading laundry into the second load compartment;

controls; and

a side-mounted closet, such that the side-mounted closet steams laundry placed inside it, the side-mounted closet comprising

at least one hot air vent that extends from the dryer of the combined washer and dryer system into the side-mounted closet; and

a door.

13. The means of loading laundry detergents and softeners into the washer of claim 12, wherein the means of loading laundry detergents and softeners into the washer comprises

at least one fill hole for detergent mounted on the second load compartment and leading to a container area with machine-controlled access to the washer;

and

at least one fill hole for softener mounted on the second load compartment leading to a container area with machine-controlled access to the washer.

14. The means of removing laundry from the dryer of claim 12, wherein the means of removing laundry from the dryer comprises a front door on the dryer.

15. The means of removing laundry from the dryer of claim 12, wherein the means of removing laundry from the dryer comprises

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer;

a chute underneath the trap door on the bottom of the dryer; and

a hinged, spring-loaded front door opening from the chute.

16. The means of removing laundry from the dryer of claim 12, wherein the means of removing laundry from the dryer comprises

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer;

and

a conveyor belt underneath the magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer, such that the conveyor belt moves the laundry to a desired location.

17. The means of loading laundry into the second load compartment of claim 12, wherein the means of loading laundry into the second load compartment comprises a front door on the second load compartment.

18. The means of loading laundry into the second load compartment of claim 12, wherein the means of loading laundry into the second load compartment comprises

a hinged, spring loaded trap door on the top of the second load compartment;

and

a conveyor belt, such that the conveyor belt deposits laundry on the hinged, spring-loaded trap door on top of the second load compartment.

19. A combined laundry washer and dryer system, such that the user can wash a first load of laundry, start drying the first load, and wash a second load while the first load is drying, the combined laundry washer and dryer system comprising

a laundry washer, the laundry washer comprising

a drainage plate in the bottom of the laundry washer;

and

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door in the bottom of the laundry washer and with access to the dryer;

a laundry dryer mounted beneath the laundry washer, the laundry dryer comprising a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer;

a second load compartment mounted on top of the laundry washer, the second load

compartment comprising

a hinged, spring-loaded trap door on top of the second load compartment; and

a magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door in the bottom of the second load compartment and with access to the washer;

a conveyor belt, such that the conveyor belt deposits laundry on the hinged, spring-loaded trap door on top of the second load compartment;

at least one fill hole for detergent mounted on the second load compartment and leading to a container area with machine-controlled access to the washer; and

at least one fill hole for softener mounted on the second load compartment leading to a container area with machine-controlled access to the washer;

a conveyor belt underneath the magnet-operated, spring-loaded trap door on the bottom of the dryer, such that the conveyor belt moves the laundry to a desired location; and

controls.

20. The combined laundry washer and dryer system of claim 19, wherein the combined laundry washer and dryer system further comprises

a side-mounted closet, such that the side-mounted closet steams laundry placed inside it, the side-mounted closet comprising

at least one hot air vent that extends from the dryer of the combined washer and dryer system into the side-mounted closet;

and

a door.