Laundry treating apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9708753-B2
Application number	US-201414779741-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2014
Priority date	Apr 2, 2013
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus ( 100 ) is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus ( 100 ) includes a cabinet ( 1 ) forming an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus, a support part ( 2 ) configured to be withdrawable from the cabinet ( 1 ), the support part ( 2 ) providing a space to support laundry when the laundry is withdrawn from the cabinet ( 1 ), and a laundry treating unit ( 5 ) configured to be withdrawable from the cabinet ( 1 ), the laundry treating unit ( 5 ) supplying at least one of heat and moisture to the laundry supported by the support part ( 2 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
a cabinet forming an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus;
a support platform configured to be withdrawable from the cabinet, the support platform comprising a first support plate and a second support plate, the first and second support plates forming a space to support laundry when withdrawn from the cabinet and unfolded;
a laundry treating iron configured to be withdrawable from the cabinet, the laundry treating iron supplying at least one of heat or moisture to the laundry supported by the support platform;
a compound hinge that rotatably couples the first support plate and the second support plate; and
a guide provided in the cabinet to direct the compound hinge when withdrawn from or introduced into the cabinet,
wherein the compound hinge rotates about a vertical axis.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support platform further comprises a laundry fixing unit provided to at least one of the first support plate or the second support plate to fix the laundry to surfaces of the first support plate and the second support plate.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the first support plate or the second support plate comprises:
a support plate base providing a space to accommodate the laundry fixing unit,
a cover provided to an upper portion of the support plate base to support the laundry, the cover allowing external air to be supplied into the support plate base there through, and
an exhaust hole allowing an interior of the support plate base to communicate with an exterior of the support plate base,
wherein the laundry fixing unit is a fan to discharge air from the interior of the support plate base to the exterior of the support plate base through the exhaust hole.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the comprises:
a base supporter coupled to the compound hinge; and
a first guider and a second guider provided in the cabinet in a height direction of the cabinet, the first and second guiders guiding movement of the base supporter in the height direction of the cabinet.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the compound hinge comprises:
a hinge housing connected to the base supporter;
a first guider hole and a second guider hole provided to opposing ends of the hinge housing facing each other;
a first hinge configured to be withdrawable from the first guider hole, the first hinge being fixed to the first support plate; and
a second hinge configured to be withdrawable from the second guider hole, the second hinge being fixed to the second support plate.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the hinge housing is rotatably coupled to the base supporter.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:
the first hinge comprises a first fixed flange fixed to the first support plate and a first insertion flange extending from the first fixed flange and forming a curved surface; and
the second hinge comprises a second fixed flange fixed to the second support plate and a second insertion flange extending from the second fixed flange and forming a curved surface,
wherein each of the first guider hole and the second guider hole comprises a curved surface to accommodate a corresponding one of the insertion flanges such that the curve surface penetrates opposing ends of the hinge housing facing each other.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the first guider hole and the second guider hole are stacked in the height direction of the cabinet, and
wherein a width of the second fixed flange is greater than a width of the first fixed flange, and the second insertion flange is provided to opposing ends of the second fixed flange facing each other such that the second insertion flanges are spaced apart from each other to accommodate the first insertion flange therebetween.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laundry treating iron comprises:
a moisture supply unit comprising a body having a handle and a discharge hole provided to the body to discharge moisture to the laundry;
a heat supply unit detachably provided to the body to supply heat to the laundry.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the cabinet comprises:
a first accommodation portion to accommodate the support platform;
a second accommodation portion to accommodate the laundry treating iron; and
a first partition wall arranged in the height direction of the cabinet to partition the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion.

11. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second accommodation portion comprises an inclined surface configured to support the laundry treating iron and to be inclined upward in a direction of withdrawal of the laundry treating iron.

12. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a moisture generation unit to generate moisture and supply the same to the moisture supply unit,
wherein the cabinet further comprises a third accommodation portion positioned under the second accommodation portion to accommodate the moisture generation unit.

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the moisture generation unit comprises:
a steam generation unit to supply steam generated by heating water to the moisture supply unit;
a water supply unit configured to be withdrawable from the third accommodation portion, the water supply unit supplying water to the steam generation unit by being connected to the steam generation unit when inserted into the third accommodation portion.

14. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the cabinet further comprises a third accommodation portion door to open and close the third accommodation portion,
wherein the third accommodation portion door comprises:
a door body to open and close the third accommodation portion, the door body being rotatably coupled to the cabinet; and
a supply unit support plate extending from the door body to support a lower surface of the water supply unit.

15. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein:
the water supply unit comprises a supply tank supported on the supply unit support plate and a check valve provided on a bottom surface of the supply tank; and
the steam generation unit comprises a storage tank to store water, a connection conduit provided to the storage tank to open the check valve and allow water to be introduced into the storage tank when the supply tank is inserted into the third accommodation portion, a heater provided in the storage tank, and a supply tube to supply steam from the storage tank to the laundry treating iron.

16. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the heat supply unit comprises:
a heating plate detachably provided to the moisture supply unit; and
a heating plate through hole penetrating the heating plate and connected to the discharge hole.

17. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the heating plate further comprises:
a heating plate body formed of a conductor and provided with the heating plate through hole;
a heating plate heater to heat the heating plate body; and
an insulation part fixed to the heating plate body and detachably coupled to the body, the insulation part blocking transfer of heat of the heating plate body to th

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yoo Taewoo
• Jeon Hoil

Classifications

• D06F81/08

  incorporating heating, steaming, or forced ventilation means · CPC title

• D06F75/16

  the reservoir being heated to produce the steam · CPC title

• D06F81/06

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

• D06F81/00 Primary

  Ironing boards  (coverings or pads therefor D06F83/00; kitchen cabinets with ironing boards movable outwards to a position of use A47B77/10) · 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