Laundry system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10253440-B2
Application number	US-201715581761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Oct 22, 2004
Publication date	Apr 9, 2019
Grant date	Apr 9, 2019

Abstract

A laundry system includes a laundry appliance having a front-loading wash chamber in which a first clothes load can be washed and a module above the front-loading wash chamber. The module includes a rotatably mounted wash basket defining a top-loading wash chamber in which a second clothes load can be washed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laundry system comprising:
a laundry appliance having a front-loading wash chamber for washing a first clothes load; and
a module vertically above the front-loading wash chamber for washing a second clothes load, the module comprising a rotatably mounted wash basket defining a top-loading wash chamber, wherein:
the module has a height less than a height of the laundry appliance; and
the top-loading wash chamber has a low capacity relative to a capacity of the front-loading wash chamber; and

wherein the module has an open configuration in which the top-loading wash chamber is accessible and a closed configuration in which the top-loading wash chamber is inaccessible.

2. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the laundry appliance is a first of two laundry appliances and the module is a first of two modules, the laundry system further comprising:
a second laundry appliance horizontally arranged next to the first laundry appliance and having a front-loading drying chamber; and
a second module vertically arranged above the second laundry appliance and horizontally arranged relative to the first module;
wherein:
the first laundry appliance performs a washing function;
the first module performs a washing function;
the second laundry appliance performs a drying function; and
the second module performs a non-tumble drying function.

3. The laundry system of claim 2 , wherein the second module that performs the non-tumble drying function includes a drying chamber having a drying rack.

4. The laundry system of claim 3 , wherein the drying rack is removably mounted.

5. The laundry system of claim 3 , wherein the drying rack comprises a rack frame.

6. The laundry system of claim 3 , wherein the second module that performs the non-tumble drying function provides forced air to dry fabric items.

7. The laundry system of claim 3 , wherein the second module that performs the non-tumble drying function incorporates refreshing functions.

8. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the module is a stand-alone unit.

9. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the module is coupled to the laundry appliance as a requirement for operation of the module.

10. The laundry system of claim 1 , further comprising a control panel provided on the laundry appliance.

11. The laundry system of claim 1 , further comprising a control panel for the module to enable a user to select a wash cycle from among a plurality of cycles, wherein the control panel is capable of:
receiving input from the user regarding operational modes for the module; and
communicating output related to an operational status of the module to the user.

12. The laundry system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of cycles includes a delicate wash cycle.

13. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the module is coupled to the laundry appliance to support operation of the laundry appliance.

14. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the module comprises a cabinet separate from the laundry appliance.

15. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the module comprises a cabinet and a drawer slidably mounted to the cabinet.

16. The laundry system of claim 1 wherein the module comprises a detergent dispenser.

17. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the module is adapted for gentle washing of fabric items.

18. The laundry system of claim 1 , wherein the module and the laundry appliance have respective left walls that form a generally continuous left surface and respective right walls that form a generally continuous right surface.

19. The laundry system of claim 18 , wherein the module and the laundry appliance have respective front walls that form a generally continuous front surface.

20. The laundry system of claim 18 , wherein the module can be remotely controlled.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Underly Kristina K
• Tomasi Donald M
• Conrad Daniel C
• Sunshine Richard A
• Kendall James W
• Viswanathan Ameresh B
• Achterberg Lorraine L
• Doyle Colleen M

Classifications

• D06F37/04

  adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis · CPC title

• A47B2210/17

  Drawers used in connection with household appliances · CPC title

• D06F29/00

  Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus · CPC title

• D06F81/06

  attachable to independent supports, e.g. walls · CPC title

• A47B88/919

  Accessories or additional elements for drawers, e.g. drawer lighting (drawers having organising or sorting means A47B88/969) · CPC title