Auxiliary washing machine and laundry treatment apparatus using the same

• US 9,945,064 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jihong, Heo, Kwangchul
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graf, Irina
• Application Number:
  US14/726,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20150345062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 23/02 and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 25/00 Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00
• 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 31/00 Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/12 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/006 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/08 Liquid supply or discharge arrangements supply of soap or other washing agents D06F39/02
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/125 Supporting arrangements for the casing, e.g. rollers or legs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/20 Arrangements for water recovery

Abstract

A laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet and a drawer retractably provided in the cabinet. An accommodation unit is provided at the drawer and defines a space configured to receive washing water. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a guider. The guider includes a first body rotatably coupled to the cabinet, and a second body rotatably coupled to the first body and the drawer and configured to connect the first body to the drawer. A supply unit is connected to a water supply source. A water supply channel is provided along the guider and is configured to supply water between the supply unit and the accommodation unit.

Claims

1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a drawer retractably provided in the cabinet;

an accommodation unit provided at the drawer and having a space for containing washing water;

a guider comprising;

a first body rotatably coupled to the cabinet, and

a second body rotatably coupled to the first body and the drawer and configured to connect the first body to the drawer;

a supply unit connected to a water supply source; and

a water supply channel provided along the guider and configured to supply water between the supply unit and the accommodation unit,

wherein the first body and the second body are located in a space formed between an upper surface of the cabinet and an upper surface of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

2. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water supply channel comprises:

a first supply channel provided along the first body and connected to the supply unit; and

a second supply channel provided along the second body and configured to supply washing water from the first supply channel to the accommodation unit.

3. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the first supply channel is formed as an internal channel inside the first body; and

the second supply channel is formed as an external water supply pipe supported by the second body.

4. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the first supply channel is formed as an internal channel inside the first body; and

the second supply channel is formed as an internal channel inside the second body.

5. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the first supply channel is formed as an external water supply pipe supported by the first body; and

the second supply channel is formed as an internal channel inside the second body.

6. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the first supply channel is formed as an external water supply pipe supported by the first body; and

the second supply channel is formed as an external water supply pipe supported by the second body.

7. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a through hole through which washing water is introduced into the accommodation unit,

wherein the second supply channel is configured to penetrate the drawer and an end portion of the second supply channel is configured to be coupled to the through hole.

8. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least part of the second supply channel comprises a flexible structure or an elastic material.

9. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the end portion of the second supply channel that is positioned between the through hole and the drawer comprises a flexible structure or an elastic material.

10. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a water supply opening provided at the drawer and configured to be connected to an end portion of the second supply channel,

a through hole configured to supply washing water to the accommodation unit; and

an intermediate connecting member connected between the water supply opening and the through hole and comprising a flexible structure or an elastic material.

11. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the supply unit comprises a first valve and a second valve that are connected to respective water supply sources and are configured to supply washing water of different temperatures, and

wherein the water supply channel comprises a first connecting pipe connected between the first supply channel and the first valve, and a second connecting pipe connected between the first supply channel and the second valve.

12. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a discharge unit configured to discharge washing water from the accommodation unit to the outside of the accommodation unit; and

a water discharge channel provided along the guider and configured to guide washing water supplied from the discharge unit to the outside of the cabinet.

13. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the water discharge channel is formed as an external water supply water discharge pipe supported by the guider.

14. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first body comprises:

a base; and

a cover thermally fused to the base, the base and the cover together forming the first supply channel.

15. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the water discharge channel comprises:

a first discharge channel provided along the first body;

a first water discharge pipe connected between the first discharge channel and the discharge unit; and

a second water discharge pipe connecting the first discharge channel to the outside of the cabinet.

16. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

the first supply channel is positioned at an upper surface of the drawer to be parallel to the upper surface of the drawer, and

the first discharge channel that is provided along the first body is positioned at a rear surface of the drawer to be parallel to the rear surface of the drawer.

17. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first body is configured to have a recessed portion that is configured to accommodate an upper edge of a rear surface of the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position.

18. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a support body fixed to the cabinet and by which the first body is rotatably supported; and

a discharge pipe provided along the support body extending through the cabinet and configured to guide washing water supplied through the water discharge channel to the outside of the cabinet.

19. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a shaft support provided along the support body and by which the first body is rotatably supported.

20. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a shaft support provided along the discharge pipe and by which the first body is rotatably supported.

21. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a portion of the water discharge channel that is connected to the discharge pipe has a flexible structure or is made of an elastic material.

22. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the water discharge channel comprises:

a first discharge channel provided along the first body and separated from the first supply channel;

a first water discharge pipe connected between the first discharge channel and the discharge unit; and

a second water discharge pipe connected between the first discharge channel and the discharge pipe.

23. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the second water discharge pipe has a flexible structure or is made of an elastic material.

24. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first body comprises:

a base; and

a cover thermally fused to the base such that the cover and the base together form the first supply channel and the first discharge channel.

25. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

a first discharge channel inlet provided at the first body and connected between the first water discharge pipe and the first discharge channel; and

a communication pipe connected between the first discharge channel inlet and the second supply channel.

26. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second body includes first and second flanges spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and configured to define an accommodation space for accommodating the second supply channel.

27. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

a water supply pipe attachment provided at at least one of the first and second flanges and configured to detachably hold the second supply channel on an inner surface of the accommodation space; and

a communication pipe attachment provided at one of the first and second flanges and configured to detachably secure the communication pipe to an outer surface of the accommodation space.

28. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a discharge unit configured to discharge washing water from the accommodation unit to the outside of the accommodation unit;

a water discharge channel provided along the guider and configured to guide washing water supplied from the discharge unit to the outside of the cabinet.

29. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a support configured to hold the accommodation unit in the drawer.