Modular laundry system with vertical laundry module

• US 8,459,067 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• 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:
  US12/496,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20090266118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 68/3.R, 68/13.R, 682/14, 682/35.R, 682/40
• 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 29/005 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/or a door that opens from the face of the housing. The vertical laundry module can further have an exterior hanging element.

Claims

1. A modular laundry system comprising:

a first laundry appliance comprising a housing having a width, an upper surface and defining an interior, 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 defining an interior, and configured to at least one of wash and dry fabric items; and

a vertical laundry module comprising;

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

multiple shelves located in the interior of the housing;

a door opening from the front face of the housing of the vertical laundry module to access the interior and to the multiple shelves; and

one or more functional elements located exteriorly of the housing, wherein at least one of the one or more functional elements comprises a hanging element overlying the upper surface of the housing of the vertical laundry module;

wherein the first laundry appliance, the second laundry appliance, and the vertical laundry module are of the same height such that the upper surfaces are co-planar and form an effective continuous upper surface; and

wherein the first laundry appliance, the second laundry appliance, and the vertical laundry module are stand-alone units arranged in a contiguous relationship to form a coherent modular system.

2. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the hanging element comprises a hanging rod.

3. The modular laundry system according to claim 2, wherein the hanging rod is extendable from and retractable into the housing of the vertical laundry module.

4. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the hanging element comprises a post extending from the upper surface a top face of the housing and a hanging bar mounted to the post.

5. The modular laundry system according to claim 4, wherein the length of the post is adjustable to select the height of the bar relative to the upper surface.

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

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

8. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical laundry module further comprises a backsplash coupled to the housing and extending above the upper surface.

9. The modular laundry system according to claim 8, wherein the backsplash is complementary with backsplashes of the first and second laundry appliances.

10. The modular laundry system according to claim 8, wherein the backsplash comprises a functional element.

11. The modular laundry system according to claim 1, wherein one or more additional functional elements are located interiorly of the housing and the door provides access to the one or more functional elements.

12. The modular laundry system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more additional functional elements located interiorly of the housing performs a non-laundry care function selected from a group comprising at least one of a storage, staging, garbage and recycling collection, shelving, laundry sorting, hanging, bulk dispensing, resource management, resource supply and/or recovery/reclamation, resource treatment, lighting, refrigeration, entertainment, pet care, data collection and communication, home automation, home security, home safety, power outlet and supply, and module controller function.

13. The modular laundry system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more additional functional elements located interiorly of the housing comprises at least one of a compartmentalized tray, a hanging rod, a peg board, and a bulk dispensing assembly.

14. The modular laundry system according to claim 11, wherein one or more additional functional elements located interiorly of the housing performs a laundry care function selected from a group comprising at least one of a washing, drying, refreshing, sanitizing, sink, ironing, steaming, and stain treatment function.

15. The modular 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.

16. 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.

17. The modular laundry system according to claim 16, wherein the first laundry appliance is a washing machine, and the second laundry appliance is a dryer.