Modular laundry system with vertical laundry module

• US 8,381,552 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kendall, James W., Achterberg, Lorraine L., Viswanathan, Ameresh Babu, Doyle, Colleen M., Sunshine, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US12/496,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20090266114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 68/3.R, 68/13.R, 68/27, 682/13, 682/14, 312/228, 312/228.1
• 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 39/00 Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 control of washing machines D06F33/00, D06F34/00

Abstract

A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances. The vertical laundry module can have a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the housing and a backsplash extending above an upper surface of the housing. The backsplash can further have a functional element that can be a storage compartment, a light, a control panel, or a power outlet.

Claims

1. A modular laundry system comprising:

a first laundry appliance comprising a housing having a width, an upper surface and a first backsplash coupled to the housing and extending above the upper surface, and configured to at least one of wash and dry fabric items;

a second laundry appliance comprising a housing having a width, an upper surface and a second backsplash coupled to the housing and extending above the upper surface, and configured to at least one of wash and dry fabric items; and

a vertical laundry module comprising;

a module housing defining an interior and having an upper surface, and a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances;

at least one drawer slidable through a face of the module housing of the vertical laundry module;

a third backsplash coupled to the module housing and extending above the upper surface; and

at least one functional element located in the third backsplash, wherein the at least one functional element comprises at least one of a storage compartment, a light, a control panel, and a power outlet;

wherein the first, second, and third backsplashes share a common profile and are shaped such that any contiguous, side-by-side arrangement of the first laundry appliance, the second laundry appliance, and the vertical laundry module provides the laundry system with an effectively continuous backsplash having the common profile and a consistent contour.

2. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical laundry module comprises multiple drawers slidable through the face of the module housing.

3. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein vertical laundry module further comprises one or more additional functional elements located interiorly of the module housing and the at least one drawer provides access to the one or more functional elements.

4. The modular laundry system according to claim 3, wherein the one or more additional functional elements comprises at least one of a shelf, a compartmentalized tray, a hanging rod, a peg board, a bulk dispensing assembly, an ironing board, a stain treatment assembly, and a sink.

5. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical laundry module comprises multiple functional elements.

6. The modular laundry system according to claim 5, wherein the multiple functional elements comprises a first functional element that performs a first function and a second functional element that performs a second function different than the first function.

7. The laundry system according to claim 1, wherein all of the upper surfaces are at the same height to form a coherent modular system having an effective continuous upper surface.

8. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second laundry appliances are selected from a group comprising a washing machine, a non-aqueous washing apparatus, a tumble dryer, a combination washing machine and dryer, a tumbling refreshing machine, and an extractor.

9. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the first laundry appliance is a washing machine, and the second laundry appliance is a dryer.