Patent Publication Number: US-2011047809-A1

Title: Laundry treating system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the Patent Korean Application No. 10-2009-0080482, filed on Aug. 28, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present invention relates to a laundry treating system which can wash and/or dry laundry items. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Well-known in the art the present invention pertains to, washing machines and dryers provide a complementary function to each other and they are often installed side by side as the case may be. Because of that, recently, a laundry treating system combined by such independent washing machine and dryer as a set has been commercialized. The laundry treating system is fabricated, with the washing machine and dryer connected with each other structurally and functionally. Such the laundry treating system may be configured of a pair of washing machines or dryers and the laundry treating system may include a washing machine having a drying function. In addition, the laundry treating system may have a single unified design to be recognized as single system by a user. 
     The laundry treating system may implement processes relating to laundry at a time, only to bring efficiency and convenience to the user. However, to enhance the efficiency and convenience, the structure of the laundry treating system is required to be improved continuously. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry treating system. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating system having enhanced efficiency and convenience. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry treating system includes a first treating device configured to wash and/or dry laundry; a second treating device installed next to the first treating device side by side and configured to wash and/or dry laundry, the second treating device separately independent from the first treating device; and a work table installed on top portions of the first and second treating devices to form a predetermined space for works relating the laundry, the work table configured not to move in a forward direction of the first and second treating devices. 
     Each of the first and second treating devices may comprise any one of a washing machine, a dryer or a washing machine having a drying function. 
     The work table may include a body comprising a plate-shaped member extended over top surfaces of the first and second treating devices. 
     The work table may include an upper flange extended upward along an edge portion of the body. 
     The work table may include first lower flanges extended downward from both opposite side portions of the body. 
     The first lower flanges may be spaced apart a predetermined distance from side surfaces of the first and second treating devices adjacent thereto. 
     The distance between the first lower flanges and the side surfaces of the first and second treating devices adjacent to the first lower flanges, respectively, may be 8 mm. 
     The work table may include a second lower flange extended downward from a rear portion of the body. The second lower flange could be in contact with rear surfaces of the first and second treating devices, such that the work table is not allowed to move forward. The second lower flange may include a buffering member disposed between the first and second treating devices and the second lower flange. The second lower flange may be configured not to interfere with accessories installed in rear surfaces of the first and second treating devices. Preferably, the second lower flange may include a cut-away portion configured to seat the accessories installed in the rear surfaces of the first and second devices therein. 
     The work table may include a spacer inserted between the first and second treating devices to maintain a predetermined gap formed between the first and second devices, the spacer extended downward from the body of the work table. The gap between the first and second treating devices may be 25 mm. 
     According to the laundry treating system of the present invention, the work table is provided to allow a user to perform works relating to the laundry. Such the work table is configured not to move in any directions for the user to perform the works relating to the laundry. As a result, the user may utilize the laundry treating system more efficiently and conveniently because of the present invention. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a laundry treating system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a top surface of a work table provided in the laundry treating system; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a bottom surface of the work table provided in the laundry treating system; and 
         FIGS. 4 to 6  are front, side and rear views illustrating the work table of the laundry treating system, respectively. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     As follows, a laundry treating system according to the present invention and a control method thereof will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a laundry treating system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the laundry treating system comprises a single set of a first treating device  100  and a second treating device  200 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  have independent and separate structures, respectively, and they are combined to form the laundry treating system. The first and second treating devices  100  and  200  may be designed with a similar size, to have a design unity. 
     Such the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  may be washing machines, dryers or washing machines having a drying function. The first and second treating devices  100  and  200  include housings  110  and  210  configured to define exterior appearances thereof, respectively. A variety of inner parts required to operate the devices may be installed in the housings  110  and  210 . Doors  120  and  220  are coupled to the housings  110  and  210 , respectively, to allow laundry loaded into the first and second devices  100  and  200 . To control the overall operation, control panels  130  and  230  are provided in the housings  110  and  220 , respectively. Specifically, the first or second treating device  100  or  200  comprises a washing machine. A tub is mounted in the housing  110  or  210  to hold wash water therein and a drum is rotatably installed in the tub to accommodate and wash the laundry. In addition, a driving mechanism configured to rotate the drum is provided in the housing  110  or  210 . If the first or second treating device  100  or  200  comprises a dryer, a duct and a heating device which are configured to supply hot air to the drum may be additionally provided in the housing  110  or  210 , together with the configuration described above. In case the first or second treating device  100  or  200  comprises the dryer, the drum is rotatably installed in the housing  110  or  210  to accommodate and dry laundry and a heating device and a duct structure configured to supply hot air to the drum inside may be provided. Such the first and second laundry treating devices  100  and  200  may include independent control units, respectively, or a single control unit configured to control the first and second laundry treating devices  100  and  200  simultaneously, to simplify the overall structure and to reduce the production cost. This single control unit may be installed one of the first and second laundry treating devices  100  and  200 . 
     According to the laundry treating system shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  may be arranged side by side to perform a variety of operations closely related with each other. Because of that, a user may have easy access to the laundry treating system conveniently and he/she can treat an overall washing process conveniently at a time. That is, if the first treating device  100  is a washing machine and the second treating device  200  is a dryer, the user operates the first treating device  100  to wash laundry and then he/she unloads the laundry. After that, the user operates the second treating device  200  to dry the washed laundry. As a result, the washing process which starts in the first treating device  100  may be completed in the second treating device  100  without stopping. Preferably, the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  provided in the single laundry treating system may be designed to have the identical height and width to unify the overall design as well as the function, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Such the laundry treating system is typically installed in a laundry room of a household and this laundry room is typically not so large, such that it is inconvenient for the user to use the laundry room in implementing works relating to the laundry. Even if the laundry room is quite large, the works relating to the laundry will be performed near the laundry treating system and it is preferable for convenience sake that the laundry treating system has a predetermined space for the works relating to the laundry. As described above, the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  provided in the laundry treating system are arranged side by side. Because of that, top surfaces of the devices are connected with each other and quite a large single surface is formed accordingly. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a work table  300  is installed on top portions of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . Since the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  have a connected large top surface, the work table  300  installed on the top surfaces may provide the user with enough space for the work relating to the laundry. As a result, the user may put laundry items washed or to be washed on the work table  300  temporarily and he/she may fold the work table in a predetermined size proper to hold the laundry items. In addition, detergent, fabric softener used in washing and tools may be placed on the work table  300  and the user may use them whenever the need arises. Because of that, the work table  300  may improve user convenience and washing efficiency and it will be described specifically in reference to a corresponding drawing, as follows. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a top surface of a work table provided in the laundry treating system.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a bottom surface of the work table provided in the laundry treating system.  FIGS. 4 to 6  are front, side and rear views illustrating the work table of the laundry treating system, respectively. 
     The work table  300  includes a body  310  basically and the body  310  is a plate-shaped member extended over the top portions of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 , to define a predetermined space for the work relating to the laundry substantially. The body  310  may be installed in direct contact with the top portions. However, much vibration would be generated during the operations of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  and this vibration would be transmitted to the body  310  directly. In this case, the objects placed on the body  310  happen to fall and friction and noise might be generated between the body  310  and the top portions. As a result, a plurality of buffering members  310   a  may be provided on a bottom surface of the body  310  and the buffering members  310   a  may be disposed between the body  310  and the top surfaces of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  to prevent the bottom surface from contacting with the top surfaces directly. Also, the buffering members  310   a  may absorb the vibration transmitted from the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  and they may prevent the transmission of vibration, abrasion generated by the vibration and the noise effectively. 
     The work table  300  includes an upper flange extended upward from the body  310 . The upper flange  320  is extended along an edge of the body  310  and the objects placed on the body  310  may be prevented from escaping the work table  300 . However, the upper flange  320  may be formed along the edge portions of both opposite sides and back sides of the body  310 , not of a front side. 
     The work table  300  may include first lower flanges  330  extended downward from the both sides of the body  310 . As more specifically shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first lower flanges  330  may be extended downward from both side edges of a bottom surface of the body  310 . While the user is performing various works on the work table  300 , a predetermined sized force is applied to the work table  300  and the work table  300  can be moved on the top portions of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . Because of that, the user cannot perform the working on the work table  300  securely. As the first lower flanges  330  are extended downward by the predetermined length as described above, the first lower flanges  330  securely latch on side portions of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . As a result, the rightward and leftward movement of the work table  300  may be limited by the first lower flanges  330  and the work table  300  is kept on the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  securely. 
     The first lower flanges  330  may be formed in close contact with the side portions of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . In this case, the first lower flanges  330  may allow no rightward/leftward movement of the work table  300 . however, the widths of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  have a predetermined permissible error tolerance and the overall width of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  arranged side by side, which is the width of the laundry treating system, may be variable in the range of the permissible tolerance. Moreover, the width formed by the combination of the first and second treating devices may be influenced by an installation place and other conditions of the laundry treating system. Considering such the variable width of the laundry treating system, it will be difficult to install the work table  300  on the first and second treating deices  100  and  200  if the first lower flanges  330  are designed in close contact with the side surfaces of the devices without any permissible tolerance. Because of that, it is preferable that the first lower flanges  330  are designed to be spaced apart a predetermined distance from the side surfaces of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . That is, considering the permissible tolerance of the width of the laundry treating system, the distance between the first lower flanges  330  may be preset larger than the entire width of the laundry treating system. As more specifically shown in  FIG. 1 , the gap (A) means the distance between an inner surface of the first lower flange  330  facing the side surface of the first or second treating device  100  or  200  and the side surface of the first or second treating device  100  or  200  adjacent to such first lower flange  330 . it is preferable that the gap (A) may be preset to be 8 mm. Like the buffering members  310   a  described above, buffering members  330   a  may be provided between the first lower flanges  330  and the side surfaces of the first and second treating devices adjacent thereto, to prevent abrasion and noise which might be generated by the vibration. 
     The laundry treating system is installed with a rear surface thereof, which is close to a wall of the installation place. Because of that, the wall of the building could limit rearward movement of the work table  300 , but there is no auxiliary structure configured to limit forward movement of the work table  300 . To limit the forward movement of the work table  300 , the work table  300  may include second lower flanges  340  extended downward from a rear edge of the body  310 . More specifically, the second lower flanges  340  are extended downward from a rear edge of the bottom surface of the body  310  as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . The second lower flanges  340  are extended downward by a predetermined length and they securely latch on rear surfaces of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . As a result, the forward movement of the work table  300  may be limited by the second lower flanges  340  and the work table  300  may be arranged more securely on the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  without substantial movement in any the directions, due to the first and second lower flanges  330  and  340 . 
     As described above, since the rearward movement of the work table  300  is limited by the wall of the building, no members like the second lower flanges  340  may be provided in a front portion of the work table  300 . Because of that, the second lower flanges  340  may be designed without consideration of a permissible tolerance of the depth, which is the distance between front and rear ends of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . As a result, the second lower flanges  340  could be formed in close contact with the rear surfaces of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . Such the second lower flanges  340  may not allow any forward movement of the work table  300 , and could be advantageous in the secure arrangement of the work table  300 . Nevertheless, if necessary, buffering members  340   a  like the buffering members  320   a  and  330   a  may be provided between the second lower flanges  340  and the rear surfaces of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  adjacent to the second lower flanges, as shown in  FIG. 4 , to prevent the abrasion and noise generated by the vibration. 
     Typically, a variety of accessories may be installed in the rear surfaces of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200 . For example, handles used to transmit the first and second treating devices, a power code assembly and the like may be installed as accessories. The second lower flanges  340  may be extended downward from the rear portion of the work table  300  and they may interfere with the above parts. Therefore, as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the second lower flanges  340  may include cut-away portions. The cut-away portions  341  may form predetermined seating spaces to seat the accessories therein such that the second lower flanges  340  may not interfere with the accessories. 
     In addition, if the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  are in close contact with each other, the vibration generated during the operation of the devices may cause friction between wall surfaces of the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  adjacent to each other and the friction may generate noise accordingly. Accordingly, it is required to install the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other. For that reason, the work table  300  may include a spacer  350  extended downward from the body as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 . More specifically, such the spacer  350  may be extended from the bottom surface of the body  310 , arranged along a center line of the bottom surface. The spacer  350  may be inserted between the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  and the predetermined distance between the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  may be maintained, accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 1 . A gap (B) indicates the distance maintained between the first and second treating devices  100  and  200  by the spacer  350  and the gap (B) may be preset to be 25 mm. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.