Modular laundry system with cabinet module

• US 7,617,702 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Sunshine, Richard A., Luckman, Joel A., Achterberg, Lorraine L., Kendall, James William, Doyle, Colleen Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/323,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20060112737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 68/3.R, 68/20, 134/184, 134/198
• US Class Current: 68/3.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/00 Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents D06F9/00 - D06F41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/02 having one rotary cleaning receptacle only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/08 Associated apparatus for handling and recovering the solvents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/081 Reclaiming or recovering the solvent from a mixture of solvent and contaminants, e.g. by distilling
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/088 Condensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/00 Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries D06F31/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A modular laundry system comprises first and second laundry appliances in one of a horizontal and vertical arrangement and a cabinet module. The cabinet module can be arranged relative to the first and second laundry appliances to form a configuration having a footprint with a width substantially equal to a combined width of any two of the first laundry appliance, the second laundry appliance, and the cabinet module. The cabinet module can be vertically arranged with the first laundry appliance.

Claims

1. A modular laundry system comprising:

a washing machine and a dryer in a vertical arrangement to collectively define a width and a height of the vertical arrangement; and

a cabinet module having a width equal to the width of the vertical arrangement, and a height equal to the height of the vertical arrangement, and comprising;

an open-face cabinet;

a door hingedly mounted to the cabinet;

a steam generator that generates steam;

a hand-held steam tool fluidly coupled to the steam generator; and

a steamer board mounted to the door for supporting an article to be steamed;

wherein the cabinet module is arranged in abutting relation to the vertical arrangement and the washing machine, the dryer, and the cabinet module are stand-alone units that are contiguously arranged to form a coherent modular system.

2. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one of a horizontal module and a second cabinet module horizontally arranged in abutting relation with the coherent modular system.

3. The modular laundry system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one of the horizontal module and the second cabinet module comprises a functional element having an associated at least one of a laundry care function and a non-laundry care function.

4. The modular laundry system according to claim 3, wherein the laundry care function is selected from a group comprising washing, drying, refreshing, sanitizing, stain removal, ironing, hand steaming, and sink.

5. The modular laundry system according to claim 3, wherein the non-laundry care function is selected from a group comprising storage, garbage and recycling collection, shelving, laundry sorting, hanging, bulk dispensing, resource management, resource supply, resource recovery/reclamation, resource treatment, lighting, refrigeration, entertainment, pet care, data collection, data communication, home automation, home security, home safety, power outlet, and power supply.

6. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, and further comprising a work surface provided above at least one of the washing machine, the dryer, and the cabinet module.

7. The modular laundry system according to claim 6, wherein the work surface is removal mounted to the at least one of the washing machine, the dryer, and the cabinet module.

8. The modular laundry system according to claim 6, wherein the work surface comprises opposing sides with each side configured for performing an associated function.

9. The modular laundry system according to claim 6, wherein the work surface comprises a non-skid surface.

10. The modular laundry system according to claim 6, wherein the work surface comprises an ironing surface.

11. The modular laundry system according to claim 6, wherein the work surface comprises a hygienic material.

12. The modular laundry system according to claim 6, where in the work surface comprises a hanging bar.

13. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet module comprises at least one other functional element that performs a refreshing function.

14. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet module comprises at least one other functional element that performs a sanitizing function.

15. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet module comprises at least one other functional element that performs a drying function.

16. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the dryer comprises a combination washing machine and dryer.