LAUNDRY APPARATUS

• US 20110265524A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Youngmin, Kim, Kyeonghwan, Kim, Dongwon, Kim, Sungryong, Yoo, Heakyung
• Granted Patent: US 10,081,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/13.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 29/02 with liquid-extracting apparatus with roller wringer D06F45/12
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/42 Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/08 Liquid supply or discharge arrangements supply of soap or other washing agents D06F39/02
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/085 Arrangements or adaptations of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/10 Filtering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs

Abstract

A laundry apparatus including a cabinet; a first space provided in the cabinet, in which a first treating part provided to treat laundry is installed; a second space provided in the cabinet, in which a second treating part provided to treat laundry is installed; a drawer movably provided in the second space, in which the second treating part is installed; and a rail unit configured to limit vertical and horizontal movement of the drawer with respect to the second space and to guide the outward movement of the drawer. Therefore, laundry may be treated by using the first and second treating parts and vibration and noise generated in the second treating part may be reduced.

Claims

1. A laundry apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a first space provided in the cabinet, wherein a first treating part provided to treat laundry is installed;

a second space provided in the cabinet, wherein a second treating part provided to treat laundry is installed;

a drawer movably provided in the second space, wherein the second treating part is installed; and

a rail unit configured to limit vertical and horizontal movement of the drawer with respect to the second space, and to guide the outward movement of the drawer.

2. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rail unit comprises,

a side rail unit provided on a side of the drawer to guide the vertical movement of the drawer.

3. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rail unit comprises a lower rail unit provided underneath a bottom of the drawer to guide the horizontal movement of the drawer.

4. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rear lock provided between a rear surface of the drawer and a rear surface of the second space to limit forward and backward movement of the drawer.

5. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a shock preventing part configured to prevent a shock generated by collision between the drawer and the cabinet when the drawer is moving inwardly.

6. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a water supply/drainage device flexibly provided between the second space and the drawer to perform water supply to and drainage of the second treating part.

7. The laundry apparatus of claim 6, wherein the water supply/drainage device comprises:

a first link comprising an end rotatably connected with a rear surface of the second space;

a second link comprising an end rotatably connected with a rear surface of the drawer and the other end rotatably coupled to the first link; and

a flexible water supply/drainage pipe, wherein one end is inserted into the first link and another end is inserted into the second link.

8. The laundry apparatus of claim 6, wherein the water supply/drainage pipe further comprises,

a control line of the second treating part and/or a power line.

9. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second treating part comprises:

a tub configured to hold wash water therein, with an open top;

a drum installed in the tub to accommodate laundry therein;

a tub cover configured to open and close the tub with respect to the drawer; and

a water supplying means configured to supply wash water to a center of the tub via the tub cover.

10. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first drainage pipe configured to drain wash water of the first treating part; and

a second drainage pipe configured to drain wash water of the second treating part,

wherein a maximum point of the second drainage pipe is located higher than a junction point between the first drainage pipe and the second drainage pipe.

11. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second treating part comprises:

a tub configured to hold wash water therein; and

a heater sump, wherein the heater sump is formed in a bottom of the tub to collect the wash water therein,

wherein a sloping surface sloping toward the heater sump is formed in the bottom of the tub.

12. The laundry apparatus of claim 11, wherein a drainage pipe is provided in a bottom of the heater sump to drain the wash water.

13. The laundry apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

an air chamber, wherein the air chamber is branched toward a top of the drainage pipe and formed in the water drainage pipe; and

a pressure water level sensor, wherein the pressure water level sensor is provided in the air chamber to detect a water level of the tub.

14. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second treating part comprises:

a tub configured to hold wash water therein; and

a transit bolt securing part;

wherein the transit bolt securing part is provided in an outer surface of the tub to secure a transit bolt passing the second space of the cabinet and the drawer thereto.

15. The laundry apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a vibration preventing material inserted in a predetermined space formed between the tub and the second space to limit movement of the tub.

16. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second treating part comprises:

a tub configured to hold wash water therein; and

a supporting device configured to damp vertical vibration and horizontal vibration of the tub.

17. The laundry apparatus of claim 16, wherein the supporting device maintains a distance between the tub and an inside of the drawer in a predetermined range.

18. The laundry apparatus of claim 16, wherein the supporting device comprises:

a first supporting part configured to limit downward movement and horizontal movement of the tub; and

a second supporting part configured to limit upward movement of the tub.

19. The laundry apparatus of claim 16, wherein the supporting device comprises:

a first supporting part configured to support a horizontal load of the tub; and

a second supporting part configured to press the tub downwardly.

20. The laundry apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first supporting part is rotatable to a predetermined angle to maintain a supporting state of the tub by using load of the tub.

21. The laundry apparatus of claim 16, wherein the supporting device is provided on at least three portions along an outer circumference of the tub.

22. The laundry apparatus of claim 16, wherein the supporting device comprises:

a first fixing part provided in the tub;

a second fixing part provided in the drawer; and

a first supporting part configured to maintain a distance between the first fixing part and the second fixing part in a predetermined range.

23. The laundry apparatus of claim 22, wherein the supporting device comprises an elastic material configured to supply an elastic force to the first and second fixing parts to maintain at least a minimum predetermined distance between the first and second fixing parts.

24. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second treating part comprises:

a tub configured to hold wash water therein; and

a drainage pump provided between an inner edge of the drawer and an outer surface of the tub to drain the wash water held in the tub.

25. The laundry apparatus of claim 24, wherein the drainage pump comprises:

a filter part configured to filter the wash water, wherein the filter part is detachable along an upward direction of the drawer; and

a pump part configured to drain the wash water, wherein the pump part is detachable from the filter part.

26. The laundry apparatus of claim 25, wherein the pump part comprises:

a filter coupling part in which the filter part is inserted and though which the filtered wash water passes through; and

a drainage chamber configured to drain the wash water having passed through the filter coupling part.

27. The laundry apparatus of claim 26, wherein a partition wall is formed between the filter coupling part and the drainage chamber and a through hole, in communication with the drainage chamber, is formed in the partition wall.

28. The laundry apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second treating part comprises:

a tub configured to hold wash water therein;

a drum rotatably provided in the tub; and

a balancer provided in the drum to reduce eccentricity of the drum, wherein at least a predetermined portion of the balancer forms part of an inner wall of the drum.

29. The laundry apparatus of claim 28, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the balancer is provided along a surface, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the balancer is substantially identical to an inner circumferential surface of the drum.

30. The laundry apparatus of claim 28, wherein a metal plate is drawn and molded to form the drum.

31. The laundry apparatus of claim 28, wherein an opening is provided between the balancer and the drum to drain water accommodated in the drum.