Modular laundry system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10640904-B2
Application number	US-201916244428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2019
Priority date	Oct 22, 2004
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A modular laundry system includes a washing machine defining a single width and a single width horizontal module below the washing machine. The single width horizontal module below the washing machine includes a cabinet capable of supporting the washing machine thereupon and having an open face. A drawer is slidably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened and closed position relative to the open face. A tub is provided within the drawer, and a wash chamber is provided within the tub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular laundry system comprising:
a washing machine defining a single width; and
a single width horizontal module below the washing machine and comprising:
a cabinet capable of supporting the washing machine thereupon and having an open face;
a drawer slidably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an opened and closed position relative to the open face;
a tub provided within the drawer; and
a wash chamber provided within the tub;

wherein the height of the cabinet is less than the height of the washing machine.

2. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module comprises a control panel for the selection of a wash cycle.

3. The modular laundry system according to claim 2 wherein the control panel is mounted on the drawer.

4. The modular laundry system according to claim 3 wherein the washing machine comprises a horizontal axis washing machine with a control panel on a front of the washing machine.

5. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the height of the horizontal module is less than half the height of the washing machine.

6. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module comprises a wash basket supported by the drawer and defining the wash chamber.

7. The modular laundry system according to claim 6 wherein the wash basket is rotatably mounted within the tub.

8. The modular laundry system according to claim 6 wherein the horizontal module comprises a detergent dispenser supported by the drawer.

9. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the wash chamber is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the opened position.

10. The modular laundry system according to claim 9 wherein the drawer comprises an open top.

11. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module comprises a detergent dispenser.

12. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module has a depth approximately equal to the depth of the washing machine.

13. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the height of the horizontal module is less than the single width.

14. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the washing machine is a horizontal axis washing machine.

15. The modular laundry system according to claim 14 wherein the tub defines an upwardly-facing open top.

16. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the washing machine comprises a control panel.

17. The modular laundry system according to claim 16 wherein the control panel of the washing machine is on a front of the washing machine and the control panel of the horizontal module is on a front of the horizontal module.

18. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 and further comprising a work surface extending across an upper surface of the washing machine.

19. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module is a stand-alone unit that does not require physical connection to the washing machine for operation.

20. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module is coupled to the washing machine as a requirement for operation of the horizontal module.

21. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module is coupled to the washing machine to support operation of the washing machine.

22. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module has a lower capacity for fabric items than the washing machine.

23. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal module comprises a delicate wash cycle.

24. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the washing machine and the horizontal module have matching designs for an aesthetically coherent appearance.

25. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 wherein the tub comprises an imperforate tub.

26. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 , wherein the horizontal module can be controlled remotely.

27. The modular laundry system according to claim 1 and further comprising:
a front-loading dryer; and
a second single-width horizontal module below the front-loading dryer and having a drying chamber for receiving fabric items to be dried.

28. The modular laundry system according to claim 27 , wherein the washing machine comprises a front-loading washing machine.

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

• 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

• A47B88/919

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

• D06F29/02

  with liquid-extracting apparatus (with roller wringer D06F45/12) · CPC title

• D06F81/06

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

• A47B88/42

  Vertically-oriented drawers, i.e. drawers where the height exceeds the width · CPC title