Patent ID: 8141269
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
1. An expandable and collapsible enclosure for a garment treating appliance, comprising one of a top and a bottom rigid housing structure: a wall structure extending substantially an entire height of said enclosure, said wall structure comprising a flexible material, an opening in said wall structure through which garments can be introduced into or removed from an interior of said enclosure, a zipper attached at said opening to selectively open and close said opening, and a snap attachment mechanism located at least one of a top and a bottom of said wall structure for securing said wall structure to at least one of said top and bottom rigid housing structure, the snap attachment mechanism comprising a hook member formed on an extruded plastic member that is secured around a periphery of one of a top and a bottom of the wall structure, the corresponding top or bottom rigid structure being provided with a locking member extending around a periphery of the top or bottom rigid structure having a flexible locking feature for interferingly mating with the hook member to provide a locking engagement therebetween while the wall structure is in an expanded condition.