METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CHANNELING LIQUID IN A CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A valve assembly for a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, the apparatus including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, and a storage tank positioned within the cabinet, said valve assembly comprising:
- a valve inlet configured to be coupled in flow communication with the wash tub;
first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with said valve inlet; and
a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through said first valve outlet and said second valve outlet, said first valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through said first valve outlet in the water washing process, said second valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through said second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve assembly for a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process includes a valve inlet, and first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with the valve inlet. The apparatus includes a cabinet, and a wash tub and a storage tank positioned within the cabinet. The valve inlet is configured to be coupled in flow communication with the wash tub. The valve assembly also includes a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet. The first valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the first valve outlet in the water washing process, and the second valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process.
22 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A valve assembly for a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, the apparatus including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, and a storage tank positioned within the cabinet, said valve assembly comprising:
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a valve inlet configured to be coupled in flow communication with the wash tub; first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with said valve inlet; and a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through said first valve outlet and said second valve outlet, said first valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through said first valve outlet in the water washing process, said second valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through said second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, said apparatus comprising:
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a cabinet; a wash tub positioned within said cabinet for receiving laundry therein; and a valve assembly positioned within said cabinet, said valve comprising; a valve inlet coupled in flow communication with said wash tub; first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with said valve inlet; and a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through said first valve outlet and said second valve outlet, said first valve configured to channel liquid from said wash tub outward through said first valve outlet in the water washing process, said second valve configured to channel liquid from said wash tub outward through said second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for assembling a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, said method comprising:
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providing a cabinet; positioning a wash tub within the cabinet; and positioning a valve assembly within the cabinet, which comprising; coupling a valve inlet in flow communication with the wash tub; coupling first and second valve outlets in flow communication with the valve inlet; and providing a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet, the first valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the first valve outlet in the water washing process, the second valve configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for channeling fluid through a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process, the apparatus including a cabinet, a wash tub, a storage tank, and a valve assembly coupled in flow communication with the wash tub, the valve assembly including a valve inlet, a first and a second valve outlet, a first and a second valve, and a first and a second pump, said method comprising:
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channeling the fluid from the wash tub into the valve assembly; and selectively channeling the fluid from the valve assembly to one of the storage tank and an exterior of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification