Laundry treating apparatus having a cabinet with an inclined portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9631312-B2
Application number	US-201213600822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2012
Priority date	Aug 31, 2011
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus is provided. The laundry mating apparatus includes a first treating device including a cabinet that defines an exterior appearance thereof, with an opening to load and unload laundry therethrough, a first space positioned in the cabinet to treat the laundry loaded through the opening, and a door that opens and closes the opening, a second treating device provided underneath a support, the second treating device including a second space to treat laundry. A surface of the cabinet, in which the opening is provided, includes an inclined portion projected in a direction away from a front surface of the second treating device.

First claim

We claim:

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:
a first treating device including a cabinet that defines an exterior appearance thereof, having an opening to load and unload laundry therethrough, a first space provided in the cabinet to treat the laundry loaded through the opening, a drum pivotally provided in the cabinet, and a door that opens and closes the opening;
a support that supports the first treating device, the support providing a storage space configured to be accessible to a user and having a vertically extending front surface; and
a second treating device provided underneath the support, the second treating device having a vertically extending front surface and including a second space to treat laundry and a drawer movable outward from the second space, wherein a front surface of the cabinet, in which the opening is provided, includes an inclined portion that projects in a direction away from the vertically extending front surfaces of the support and the second treating device, wherein the inclined portion includes:
a first inclined surface, in which the opening is provided, inclined in a direction that extends away from the vertically extending front surfaces of the support and the second treating device, wherein the door is provided in the first inclined surface;
a second inclined surface that extends from the first inclined surface, wherein the second inclined surface is inclined toward the vertically extending front surfaces of the support and the second treating device;
a connection point between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface that projects in the direction that extends away from the vertically extended front surfaces of the support and the second treating device;
a holding portion bent toward the first space, wherein the opening is provided in the holding portion and the door is inserted in the holding portion, wherein an inclination angle of the holding portion of the door corresponds to the inclination angle of the first inclined surface; and
a lower inclined surface provided in the holding portion and located between the connection point and the opening to provide a receiving space for a lower portion of the door, wherein the lower inclined surface has an inclination angle which is larger than the inclination angle of the first inclined surface with respect to a line that extends perpendicular to the ground, and wherein the vertically extending front surface of the support extends from the second inclined surface to form a flat surface parallel to the vertically extending front surface of the second treating device.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drum includes a drum opening in communication with the opening, and wherein the drum is tilted at a predetermined angle in the cabinet.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the door covers 80% to 90% of the first inclined surface.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first space further includes a tub provided in the cabinet to hold the drum, and wherein the tub stores wash water for treating laundry.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the tub includes a tub opening in communication with the opening and the drum opening, and wherein the tub is tilted in the cabinet.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a bottommost portion of the tub is provided at half or more of a sum total of a height of the first treating device and a height of the second treating device.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the storage space is a storage drawer.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 7 , further including:
An opening and closing device provided in the vertically extending front surface of the support to provide the user with access to the storage space.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the door does not project from the holding portion when the door closes the opening.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller provided in the door, wherein the controller receives control commands, displays control processes, and controls operation of the laundry treating apparatus.

11. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is provided in a front surface of the door, and wherein the controller is exposed when the door is closed.

12. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a light emitting portion is provided in an upper portion of the holding portion that emits light into the first space.

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the door selectively exposes the light emitting portion.

14. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one detergent introduction port is provided in the lower inclined surface through which detergent is introduced into the first treating device.

15. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one detergent introduction port includes a main-washing detergent introduction hole for a main-wash, a preliminary-washing detergent hole for a preliminary wash, and a fabric softener introduction hole.

16. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the door selectively opens and closes the at least one detergent introduction port.

17. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the door corresponding to the lower inclined surface has an inclined surface.

18. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the inclination angle of the inclined surface of the door is an acute angle.

19. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a control panel provided in the door to receive control commands.

20. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the control panel displays control processes, and controls operation of the laundry treating apparatus.

21. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the control panel is fixed to the door so as to move with the door when the door opens the opening.

22. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a handle provided in the door to open and close the door, wherein the handle extends from a circumferential surface of the door toward an inside of the door.

23. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a transparent portion through which an inside of the first treating device is visible.

Assignees

• Han Jonghee
• Seong Jeaseok
• Kim Yoonsang
• Chung Wookjun
• Lee Kyungah
• Lee Junghwan
• Kim On
• Son Nerry
• Jeon Hoil
• Um Yeji
• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Han Jonghee
• Seong Jeaseok
• Kim Yoonsang
• Chung Wookjun
• Lee Kyungah
• Lee Junghwan
• Kim On
• Son Nerry
• Jeon Hoil
• Um Yeji

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

• D06F39/02 Primary

  Devices for adding soap or other washing agents · CPC title

• D06F95/00

  Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries  (D06F31/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F39/12

  Casings; Tubs · CPC title

• D06F37/26

  Casings; Tubs · CPC title